as in reversal
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
The explorers persevered despite suffering setbacks that would have discouraged lesser souls.
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to hold back
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of set back
Alexander Smith, NBC news, 25 June 2025
But Iran’s nuclear program has at most been set back a few months, according to a reported initial assessment by U.S. intelligence.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 25 June 2025
Deandre Evans, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
Despite setbacks — including talks of a walkout, which stalled when leadership got wind of the strategic move — the cheerleaders remained steadfast in their pursuit.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for set back
Noun
The strikes were not as effective as Trump said, however, setting back the country's nuclear program by three-to-six months, according to three people with knowledge of an initial Defense Intelligence Agency assessment.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 25 June 2025
But Iran’s nuclear program has at most been set back a few months, according to a reported initial assessment by U.S. intelligence.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 25 June 2025
Verb
While the high-speed rail project has faced undeniable setbacks, exacerbated by global events like the COVID-19 pandemic, the vision persists.
—Deandre Evans, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
Despite setbacks — including talks of a walkout, which stalled when leadership got wind of the strategic move — the cheerleaders remained steadfast in their pursuit.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for set back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set back
Noun
-
The policy represents a reversal for Fannie and Freddie, the two entities under government conservatorship that guarantee more than half of America’s mortgages.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
25 June 2025
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Trump and his party have made the rollback of LGBTQ rights a nationwide priority, and more encroachments—perhaps even the reversal of Obergefell—appear to be on conservatives’ radar.—
Emma Sarappo,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
As the ball dropped, Potgieter's father, Heinrich, couldn't hold back his tears.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
-
As usual, Jacquemus didn’t hold back on his show, especially with his celebratory after party.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
30 June 2025
Noun
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In that case, the country could see something that resembles the two and a half decades of Gavi run in reverse.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
27 June 2025
-
This momentum isn’t an engine that can be thrown in reverse.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
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And all of these advances can’t do much of anything to make the human tendons hold up under the pressure required to support the throws by a Major League pitcher, or the demands by an NBA player.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 June 2025
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Prime Video’s Countdown is a testosterone-heavy thriller that delivers big action, even when the story doesn’t hold up.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
Medical examiners ruled two other deaths in January and February to be from natural causes, but a Miami Herald investigation found evidence of substandard or delayed medical care.—
Claire Healy,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
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Because of this, vulnerabilities showed up late, coding had to be frozen during emergencies, and repairs became expensive, all of which delayed releases and made customers unhappy.—
Sai Sandeep Ogety,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Verb
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But as local Chinese governments have ramped up their own conferences and the overall economy has slowed, foreign businesses interested in China have not had to rely as much on Summer Davos matchmaking.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
25 June 2025
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Unifying and cleaning data to enable comprehensive analyses is a problem that often slows down the R&D engine.—
Martin Snyder,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Espionage Arrests In the past few weeks, Iran has detained over 700 people accused of spying for Israel and the U.S., with state media reporting at least six executions, including three Kurds accused of aiding Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence agency.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
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She was detained, and police found her unarmed, court records state.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
Verb
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As engine revs increase, centrifugal force alters the valve timing by a few degrees, either advancing or retarding it.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 17,
New Atlas,
17 June 2025
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Blockchain thus provides companies and banks a way to undo Basel II’s and Basel III’s retarding effect on trade finance while complying with their requirements.—
Rebecca Liao,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Aug. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Set back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20back. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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