as in reversal
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
The explorersz 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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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
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
Though Trump is holding back, Israel is escalating its attacks on Iran after eight days of conflict.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
20 June 2025
-
Trump believes that higher interest rates are holding back the American economy, and Powell's refusal to cut the rates has caused Trump no end of frustration.—
Amanda Castro
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Service businesses face real-time cost pressures that cannot be warehoused or delayed.—
Kara Dennison,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
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President Trump delayed his decision on whether attack Iran for two weeks following a Thursday sighting of Steve Bannon at the White House.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2025
Verb
-
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
-
In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here's what to know: Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
He is detained at the Shelby County Sheriff's Office jail and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, online jail records show.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
19 June 2025
-
Mass protests also broke out in the autumn of 2022 after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old, died while detained by the morality police for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly.—
Ruth Marks Eglash,
FOXNews.com,
19 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 3 Jul. 2025.
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