setback 1 of 2

noun

ˈset-ˌbak How to pronounce setback (audio)
Definition of setbacknext
as in reversal
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily The explorers persevered despite suffering setbacks that would have discouraged lesser souls.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

set back

2 of 2

verb

as in to hold back

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of setback
Noun
These kids become more emotionally intelligent, which helps them weather setbacks, embrace independence and try new things. — Juli Fraga, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026 Amid the delays and setbacks, simply opening the museum may feel like a victory to its founders. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
Key West is forecast to reach a high of 92 degrees and the old record of 95 degrees was set back in 1951. — Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 There are more steps than most buyers anticipate, and the wrong move at the wrong time can set back your closing or cost you the loan. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for setback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setback
  1. reversal
  2. hold back
  3. reverse
  4. hold up
  5. delay
  6. slow
  7. detain
  8. retard
Noun
  • Behind the numbers One factor behind the decline in overdose deaths may be wider availability of the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Herzog’s fiction narratives haven’t been nearly as successful as his documentaries for some time now, which is a reversal from the early years.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of reversal
Verb
  • Reddit study participants didn’t hold back on sharing their dislike for the all-beige trend.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Brad Paisley had to hold back tears while honoring his late friend and musical collaborator Dolly Parton.
    — Paris Close, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of hold back
Noun
  • On overcast afternoons, the sky often brightened as the evening wore on, as if the world were turning in reverse.
    — Holden Frith, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Investigators interviewed the consultant, who said the process worked in reverse.
    — Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of reverse
Verb
  • Carried in on a throne held up by shirtless men, Bravo’s prodigal daughter takes the mic to speak to the crowd and reminisce on her ups and downs as an Atlanta Housewife.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
  • But those savings erode in a case like Cheshire, where workers completed a five-story, 70-unit building more than a year ago — but local building review has held up certificates of occupancy.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of hold up
Verb
  • Some of that January increase reflects workers who secured jobs during the final months of the previous year but delayed their start dates.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is pouring billions of dollars into developing a domestic tech ecosystem under his Vision 2030 program, even as some mega-projects are delayed.
    — Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of delay
Verb
  • The 2008 financial crash slowed down development enough for a dynamic scene to take root, driven by DIY venues.
    — Michael Calderone, Curbed, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Seemingly, the only thing that could slow down the automobile takeover was diminishing fuel supplies, fear of which had become a fixation of American oil companies and government officials after the Armistice.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of slow
Verb
  • The driver, identified by police as 25-year-old Griffin Charles Foy, is seen outside the truck with his hands raised as officers move in to detain him.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Three-sport Florida high school athlete and his family detained by ICE.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of detain
Verb
  • But that approach is rather slow to respond and is limited to applying retarding force.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 26 June 2018
Definition of retard

Browse Nearby Words

set at
setback
set back
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Cite this Entry

“Setback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setback. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on setback

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about setback

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