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Suffix · forms adjectives

-set

placed, embedded, or established in a specified manner or depth; describing position, disposition, or the depth of establishment

In Spanish: hundido / posicionado / establecidoLiterary

Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated June 2026

What this suffix does

-set forms compound adjectives that describe how something is positioned, embedded, or established — the depth and manner of its placement. Deep-set, close-set, well-set, hard-set — each compound describes a quality of position or disposition. "Deep-set" is the most important figuratively: applied to eyes it describes a physical feature; applied to beliefs, habits, and problems it describes how profoundly something is embedded in the structure of a person, institution, or system. These compounds bridge the physical and psychological registers with unusual elegance.

How it is pronounced

-set

Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.

Examples

Base word
With -set
In a phrase
  • deepdeep-setHis deep-set eyes, shadowed by heavy brows, gave him a perpetually watchful expression.
  • closeclose-setThe close-set teeth of the saw were designed for the finest possible cut in hardwood.
  • wellwell-setWell-set and broad-shouldered, the sergeant projected physical authority without having to invoke rank.
  • hardhard-setHis hard-set expression had not changed since the beginning of the interrogation, three hours earlier.
  • sunsun-setThe sun-set sky turned the harbour water into a surface of fractured gold.

Common mistakes

deep-set = deep-seated (same meaning)
deep-set and deep-seated are related but used in different contexts

"Deep-set" most commonly describes physical features (deep-set eyes) and occasionally extends to attitudes or feelings embedded in a person. "Deep-seated" is almost exclusively figurative and describes beliefs, prejudices, conflicts, and problems that are structurally embedded in a system or psychology. The overlap exists but the default uses are different: "deep-set eyes" is correct; "deep-seated prejudice" is correct; crossing them creates an unusual register.

hard-set = hard-hearted or cruel
hard-set = having a fixed, firm expression or disposition; not necessarily cruel or unkind

"Hard-set" describes a fixed, firm, unyielding quality — most often used of facial expressions or physical stances. A hard-set jaw, a hard-set expression, hard-set shoulders — these describe rigidity and determination rather than cruelty. The compound says the person has set themselves hard against something, not that they are heartless.

A trick to remember it

"Deep-set" crosses registers beautifully. Applied to eyes it is purely physical: the eyes are set deep in their sockets. Applied to patterns of thought or behaviour it becomes figurative: the deep-set habits of a lifetime. The same physical image — depth of embedding — works metaphorically without any strain. This is part of what makes -set compounds so versatile: the physical metaphor of depth and placement maps naturally onto psychological and social embedding.

Practise what you learned

Exercise 1 · Form the word

Fill in: "His ___ eyes watched everything from beneath heavy brows, giving nothing away." (placed deeply in the eye sockets; appearing watchful and shadowed)

Hint: Deep + set = set deep in the sockets; embedded deeply.

Exercise 2 · Pick the right one

"The well-set young man had the physical confidence of someone who had never needed to question his place in the room." What does "well-set" suggest?

Exercise 3 · Form the word

Fill in: "She answered every question with a ___ jaw and a voice that revealed nothing." (fixed and firm; showing no give or flexibility)

Hint: Hard + set = set hard; fixed firmly into an unyielding position.

Frequently asked questions

What does the suffix -set mean in English?

The suffix -set placed, embedded, or established in a specified manner or depth; describing position, disposition, or the depth of establishment In Spanish it usually maps to hundido / posicionado / establecido.

Can you give an example of a word with -set?

"deep" becomes "deep-set". It is a typical example of the -set suffix.

Other useful suffixes

  • -edged

    having an edge of a specified kind; having a quality that cuts, sharpens, or creates a dangerous boundary

  • -rooted

    fixed or established in a specified depth or manner; describing how firmly embedded something is in a place, person, or system

Learn every English suffix

-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.

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