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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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.
-
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.
Verb
-
This never held back the Kennedys before.
-
Muñoz scored in the 76th minute after the Colombians had been held back by a strong performance from Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who made five difficult saves in the first 20 minutes.
Noun
-
The remaining 15 picks of the first round are ordered in reverse of the teams’ regular-season records.
-
The problem just works in reverse.
Verb
-
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.
-
In her classic book Atlas Shrugged, Rand used the Greek myth of Atlas holding up the world as a metaphor.
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.
-
The initial flight was delayed, causing everyone on the flight to miss their connections in Iceland.
Verb
-
But that could slow down as a critical evacuation plan is put on hold.
-
Federal water managers have already been sucking water out of other reservoirs in Colorado and Wyoming to slow Lake Powell's decline.
Verb
-
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.
-
Witnesses Say Victims Were Trapped Witnesses also described officers detaining the driver.
Verb
-
As engine revs increase, centrifugal force alters the valve timing by a few degrees, either advancing or retarding it.
-
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.
Cite this Entry
“Setback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setback. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
