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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of setback
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 19 June 2026
The ruling marks the latest setback in Carr’s efforts to try dozens of activists who opposed construction of the training center.
—Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 19 June 2026
Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Global economic development was set back by decades.
—Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for setback
Noun
Lucky decides to take Mason to his first baseball game in Atlanta, only to encounter a series of complications and setbacks for which fatherhood, grief, and economic barriers are a distinct part of the Black American experience.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 19 June 2026
The ruling marks the latest setback in Carr’s efforts to try dozens of activists who opposed construction of the training center.
—Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 19 June 2026
Verb
The mark bested the previous record set back in 2014.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Global economic development was set back by decades.
—Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for setback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setback
Noun
-
The reversal was driven largely by Claude Code, Anthropic’s autonomous coding tool.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
-
The official said the demand to dismantle Black Economic Empowerment policies was viewed internally as a direct reversal of commitments made to South Africans who fought against apartheid.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
But good for him for not holding back.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
17 June 2026
-
But Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of AI giant Perplexity, says that operating under the fear of failure only holds back success.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Plus, its 8000mAh battery not only lasts all day but also supports reverse charging.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
15 June 2026
-
For the tragicomic is camp in reverse.—
Eugenie Brinkema,
ARTnews.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology identified problems with the building's original design and construction, specifically citing support columns in the underground garage that held up the pool deck.—
Manuel Bojorquez,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
-
In her classic book Atlas Shrugged, Rand used the Greek myth of Atlas holding up the world as a metaphor.—
Hersh Shefrin,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Verb
-
And schools that delay submitting transfer paperwork until the last minute thinking investigators will be too busy to spot an error don’t understand the process.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
-
The initial flight was delayed, causing everyone on the flight to miss their connections in Iceland.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
-
Not yet aware of her injury, Simms slowed and asked a man on the side of the road if her tires were still in good shape.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
19 June 2026
Verb
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When news spread that Keyla Vazquez-Zuniga, a Southern Connecticut State University nursing student, had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 31, fear moved quickly across campus.—
Valentina Toro,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
-
Witnesses Say Victims Were Trapped Witnesses also described officers detaining the driver.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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 24 Jun. 2026.
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