as in reversals
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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Recent Examples of setbacks
Despite major strides in the right direction, the push for a greener future has been dealt several devastating blows from a fraught supply chain, economic headwinds and political setbacks.
—
Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
It's been almost eight years since Tesla first announced the next-gen Roadster, and the project has been beset by delays and setbacks ever since.
—PC Magazine, 1 Nov. 2025
On Saturday, Egypt’s showpiece museum officially opens its doors after innumerable interruptions, delays and setbacks.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
The studio has had a storm of recent headlines as new owner David Ellison and his top executives made dramatic moves and endured setbacks.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Oct. 2025
The eyesore property has become a visible metaphor for the city’s retail challenges and general setbacks plaguing the Green Line, the Midway and the once-promising University Avenue business corridor.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
After many false starts and setbacks, both technical and financial, the final result was a pen with a steel ball in a socket and an ink barrel filled with an ink paste that didn't evaporate like conventional ink.
—New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025
Occasional setbacks are part of the process—stay consistent and calm, and your dog will learn.
—Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Financing setbacks such as loan defaults, foreclosures and a plunge in property values have begun to haunt a growing number of hotels in the Bay Area.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
It's been almost eight years since Tesla first announced the next-gen Roadster, and the project has been beset by delays and setbacks ever since.
—PC Magazine, 1 Nov. 2025
On Saturday, Egypt’s showpiece museum officially opens its doors after innumerable interruptions, delays and setbacks.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
The studio has had a storm of recent headlines as new owner David Ellison and his top executives made dramatic moves and endured setbacks.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Oct. 2025
The eyesore property has become a visible metaphor for the city’s retail challenges and general setbacks plaguing the Green Line, the Midway and the once-promising University Avenue business corridor.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
After many false starts and setbacks, both technical and financial, the final result was a pen with a steel ball in a socket and an ink barrel filled with an ink paste that didn't evaporate like conventional ink.
—New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025
Occasional setbacks are part of the process—stay consistent and calm, and your dog will learn.
—Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Financing setbacks such as loan defaults, foreclosures and a plunge in property values have begun to haunt a growing number of hotels in the Bay Area.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setbacks
Noun
-
As their characters each face struggles, triumphs and reversals, the two leads never falter.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Sudden macroeconomic shocks or trend reversals can push prices well below the EMA, leading to mark-to-market losses or assignments on declining stocks.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Most of those came on reverses or other wide runs.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Setbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setbacks. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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