sets back

verb

present tense third-person singular of set back
as in holds back

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets back
  1. holds back
  2. holds up
  3. delays
  4. slows
  5. stems
  6. blocks
  7. keeps
  8. detains
Verb
  • Samsung traditionally holds back one color in the Galaxy S range to be a web exclusive and drive consumers to its website, although typically this is one of the standard black or grey colors.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
  • The hydropower from Glen Canyon Dam that holds back Lake Powell serves more than 350,000 homes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026
Definition of holds back
Verb
  • The thick, 100 percent organic cotton fabric feels lightweight but holds up better than workwear canvas.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 13 July 2026
  • Beloved for its durable flatwoven texture, the material holds up against moisture well, without getting waterlogged.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 7 July 2026
Definition of holds up
Verb
  • Chief Estella Patterson told committee members officers have a hard time determining the exact age of juveniles without an ID, which delays the investigation and prolongs police interactions.
    — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026
  • Baron is a credible villain who can give Trick and Melo someone to feud with, which delays their inevitable feud.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of delays
Verb
  • Currently, agents must travel from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to meet inbound international flights, a process county officials say slows down business travel.
    — Carson Bonner, AJC.com, 14 July 2026
  • And the situation could get worse, according to the organization, since tax revenue has been coming in much lower than the long-term trend as the economy slows.
    — Scott Cohn, CNBC, 13 July 2026
Definition of slows
Verb
  • According to school officials, the change stems largely from concerns raised by the school system’s insurance carrier regarding the safety of continuing the overnight residential program.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 16 July 2026
  • Support individual stems with single bamboo stakes; multiple stems may benefit from a grow-through grid or tomato cage.
    — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026
Definition of stems
Verb
  • The moon—hidden in the daytime sky until its silhouette cuts a narrow curve at the sun’s edge—slowly slides across the disk of our star toward totality, the time when the moon completely blocks the sun.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 17 July 2026
  • The farmers said the smoke impedes their hay operation, as the haze blocks the sunlight necessary to dry the hay out.
    — The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2026
Definition of blocks
Verb
  • For families juggling grocery bills and hectic mornings, that math is the reason Dollar Tree’s protein aisle keeps showing up on shopper roundups and social feeds.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 16, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026
  • The room blends Italian comfort with NoDa edge, which gives it a looseness that keeps the food from feeling overly precious.
    — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of keeps
Verb
  • The policy guidance applies to agents under Enforcement and Removal Operations, the branch of ICE that detains and ultimately deports undocumented immigrants.
    — Philip Wang, Time, 14 July 2026
  • Alligator Alcatraz houses a few hundred employees in trailers and detains about 650 male immigrants in large tents; until a few weeks ago, the number of those being detained was nearly 1,500.
    — Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
Definition of detains
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.

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sets at
sets back
sets by
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Cite this Entry

“Sets back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets%20back. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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