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
The novel borrows from Englund’s experience, the setbacks and the thrills, and also draws from conversations with Dana Fares, another local professional actress who spent time in Hollywood.
—
Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Chet Holmgren, the big man who showed his immense value in their title run last season after enduring years of health setbacks, is 23.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Greene said the setbacks that families have faced have been their own kind of disaster.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Some are still forging ahead with single-family home ownership despite serious financial setbacks.
—Sydney Franklin, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Nov. 2025
Other low-cost missions flown under the NASA’s SIMPLEx program have failed due to a range of setbacks, including Lunar Trailblazer, which ended due to communications problems, and LunaH-Map, which experienced launch delays that left the spacecraft in suboptimal condition.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
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
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
Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Chet Holmgren, the big man who showed his immense value in their title run last season after enduring years of health setbacks, is 23.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Greene said the setbacks that families have faced have been their own kind of disaster.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Some are still forging ahead with single-family home ownership despite serious financial setbacks.
—Sydney Franklin, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Nov. 2025
Other low-cost missions flown under the NASA’s SIMPLEx program have failed due to a range of setbacks, including Lunar Trailblazer, which ended due to communications problems, and LunaH-Map, which experienced launch delays that left the spacecraft in suboptimal condition.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setbacks
Noun
-
In truth, the patriots’ path to victory was a near decade-long slog characterized by a string of strange bedfellows, strained alliances, and dramatic reversals.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
However, Solomon noted that such reversals were a normal feature of long-term bull markets, noting that the investment bank’s standing advice to clients remains to stay invested and review portfolio allocation, not attempt to time markets.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 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 14 Nov. 2025.
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