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
as in to hold back
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of setback
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2026
This is the latest setback for Bowman, who’s been plagued by injuries the past few years.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Jordana Miller, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
When daylight saving time ends, clocks are set back one hour to standard time.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for setback
Noun
That figure marks 20 quarters of growth for the brand overall, as other luxury behemoths such as LVMH and Gucci owner Kering have seen setbacks amid an ongoing luxury slump.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2026
This is the latest setback for Bowman, who’s been plagued by injuries the past few years.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Danny Yatom, a former head of Mossad from 1996 to 1998, told ABC News that war with Iran represents an opportunity to set back Iran’s offensive capabilities.
—Jordana Miller, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
When daylight saving time ends, clocks are set back one hour to standard time.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for setback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setback
Noun
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The reversals highlights how the world’s biggest energy-importing region is being particularly hard hit by the war in the Middle East and the lack of access to oil and fuel from the Persian Gulf.—
Nicholas Lua,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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Scholars such as the ethnomusicologist Michael Fuhr saw K-pop as a reversal of long-standing narratives, especially in pop music, that accentuated the flow of culture from West to East.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But after Democrat Alex Holladay flipped a seat in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday, DNC Chair Ken Martin could not hold back his praise for Democrats in the Natural State.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
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While the skirmish was going on, Tre White had to be held back by KU assistant Tony Bland, and White did not seem pleased as the two exchanged some words.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Unlike a gas furnace, which burns fuel to create heat, a heat pump compresses and expands a refrigerant, like a refrigerator in reverse.—
Ben Christopher,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
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The BadeSaba hack demonstrates the template that Iranian proxy groups could now try to deploy in reverse against Western companies and others.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Warnock held a news conference Monday outside of the warehouse that Department of Homeland Security officials say could hold up to 10,000 detainees — a number that has local officials concerned about whether the city’s water and sewer infrastructure can accommodate a facility of that size.—
Reed Williams,
AJC.com,
3 Mar. 2026
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In one scene, someone holds up a phone showing the real footage of the Red Crescent workers that day, further blurring the lines between documentary and performance.—
Alexander Durie,
Time,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The judge reminded the court that Cox filed the motion in January 2026 and refused to delay the hearing.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Mar. 2026
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The upcoming feature, which will allow users to generate adult content using the chatbot for the first time, has been delayed.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With tax incentives reduced and competition increasing, analysts expect EV sales growth in China to slow.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
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However, some automakers have also sought to boost the country’s slowing domestic demand by offsetting some of the financial costs on consumers, Tu added.—
Matthew Chin,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The agents swarming the car to detain Rodriguez knew a lot about her and her husband, Medina said.—
Elise Hammond,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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According to De Bremaeker, the mother, who had received a removal order, was on a supervisory check-in when she was detained.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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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Genesis Yes, the thing retarding recruitment below pre-2022 levels may be, at least in part, a military-wide health-records update that, much like MyChart in the civilian health-care world, tracks the medications of all service members.—
Luther Ray Abel,
National Review,
9 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Setback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setback. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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