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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of setbacks
After several players, including Addison Barger and Anthony Santander, dealt with setbacks, Daulton Varsho recently left a game with left wrist discomfort, adding to the team's woes.
—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Retirement often arrives suddenly and unexpectedly, triggered by health setbacks or corporate downsizing.
—
Daniel De Visé,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
But the company’s appeal, particularly in the face of setbacks, is also reliant on a combination of story and Musk’s own image in ways that are not necessarily connected to reality.
—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
20 June 2026
Despite the setbacks, Jyske Bank analyst Henrik Hallengreen Laustsen sees a future for survodutide as a treatment for fatty liver disease, and for petrelintide for obesity.
—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
19 June 2026
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
Moscow’s efforts to recruit students for its own expert drone units have been mired in distrust and setbacks, according to Stepanenko, after Russia’s Ministry of Defense committed some drone operators to frontline ground assaults.
—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
That aside, there has been precious little obvious progress and some notable setbacks.
—
Anand Menon,
Time,
13 June 2026
For DeCarlo, however, one of the biggest reasons the project stayed on schedule and avoided major setbacks came down to preparation.
—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Retirement often arrives suddenly and unexpectedly, triggered by health setbacks or corporate downsizing.
—
Daniel De Visé,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
But the company’s appeal, particularly in the face of setbacks, is also reliant on a combination of story and Musk’s own image in ways that are not necessarily connected to reality.
—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
20 June 2026
Despite the setbacks, Jyske Bank analyst Henrik Hallengreen Laustsen sees a future for survodutide as a treatment for fatty liver disease, and for petrelintide for obesity.
—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
19 June 2026
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
Moscow’s efforts to recruit students for its own expert drone units have been mired in distrust and setbacks, according to Stepanenko, after Russia’s Ministry of Defense committed some drone operators to frontline ground assaults.
—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
That aside, there has been precious little obvious progress and some notable setbacks.
—
Anand Menon,
Time,
13 June 2026
For DeCarlo, however, one of the biggest reasons the project stayed on schedule and avoided major setbacks came down to preparation.
—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setbacks
Noun
-
Companies that address operational reliability early will avoid fragmented deployments, unmanaged risks and expensive reversals.
-
But as the November election draws closer and Republicans are trying to defend their majorities, Trump is instead needling Congress with his demands and reversals, driving several Republican senators to disparage his actions publicly for the first time.
Noun
-
The year ahead now promises multiple serious reverses.
-
Most of those came on reverses or other wide runs.
Cite this Entry
“Setbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setbacks. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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