as in reversal
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the colonists persevered despite suffering setbacks that would have discouraged lesser souls
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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 setback
Zhenbo Wang, The Conversation, 16 May 2025
Gilmour, the Australian startup that developed the Eris rocket, announced the setback in a post to the company's social media accounts Thursday.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
Emiliano Rodríguez Mega, New York Times, 10 May 2025
The agreement was struck after months of negotiations between the two sides, set back a few weeks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s contentious meeting in Washington with President Trump and Vice President Vance.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for setback
Noun
As the world turns its attention to the Moon, every mission – whether triumph or setback – brings humanity closer to a permanent return to our closest celestial neighbor.
—Zhenbo Wang, The Conversation, 16 May 2025
Gilmour, the Australian startup that developed the Eris rocket, announced the setback in a post to the company's social media accounts Thursday.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
Verb
That has led to bouts of tension with the Mexican government, which insists that a unilateral attack by the Pentagon against the cartels would be a violation of Mexico’s sovereignty and set back bilateral relations by decades.
—Emiliano Rodríguez Mega, New York Times, 10 May 2025
The agreement was struck after months of negotiations between the two sides, set back a few weeks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s contentious meeting in Washington with President Trump and Vice President Vance.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for setback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setback
Noun
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The new leadership brought about a radical shift in foreign policy towards a more pro-Islamic, anti-Western approach—and a reversal of its stance towards Israel.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
21 May 2025
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The speed of that reversal underscores just how fast attitudes are changing.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Several Mercer players had to be held back in the dugout.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2025
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That story has repeated itself this year, with the Fed continuing to hold back on rate cuts, even though investors have consistently expected more.—
Michael Foster,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Noun
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And when the engines don’t work, they’re brought back to HRC and the engineering process is repeated in reverse in search of flaws.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2025
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Instead, they have been stuck in reverse from opening day, even when Skenes starts.—
Will Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Also question unsolicited phone calls, emails or text messages about a package held up in the post office because of an unpaid fee, said Lee.—
Ana Teresa Solá,
CNBC,
19 May 2025
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Reports said the bank was held up by a white man with a beard and tattooed arms who left without taking anything.—
Dale Ellis,
Arkansas Online,
18 May 2025
Verb
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At least three lawsuits have been filed against the company for delaying the features and circulating misleading iPhone 16 ads regarding Apple Intelligence.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
26 May 2025
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Kristi Durbin, immunization and travel division manager at El Paso County Public Health, said parents delayed routine health care during the pandemic.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
25 May 2025
Verb
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Eating less protein may slow the progression of kidney disease.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
20 May 2025
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As mentioned, early mirrorless cameras were on the slow side for focus, which led to slow burst rates.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
20 May 2025
Verb
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In the past two decades, Panahi, like many of his countrymen and fellow-artists, has faced continual persecution by the Iranian government: he has been detained and imprisoned, placed under house arrest, forbidden to leave the country, and banned from filmmaking.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
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Deputies have detained the other man for questioning, and Homicide Bureau detectives are investigating the shooting, Colome said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
26 May 2025
Verb
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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
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Turning the lithium oxide—the product of discharging the battery—back to lithium is difficult and only partially possible even when assisted by special catalysts: The oxide builds up and retards the process, limiting the number of charge-discharge cycles to a mere handful.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
31 Jan. 2011
Cite this Entry
“Setback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setback. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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