SETS BACK Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

sets back

verb

present tense third-person singular of set back

as in holds back

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets back

Verb

Eventually, though, and soon, Colorado will need to institute a new water conservation program that holds back some water for release downstream through this stretch and on toward Lake Powell when it’s most needed in summer, Holm said.

— Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of holds back

Verb

It’s guaranteed to leave a smooth, humidity-resistant finish that holds up on muggy days and adds a ton of shine to dull and overworked strands.

— Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026
However, that lofty goal holds up only until personal beliefs collide with reality.

— Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of holds up

Verb

Fat actually delays gastric emptying and digestion even more, keeping blood sugar much steadier.

— Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2026
Tennis has always been highly dependent on the weather; unlike in soccer or football, rain cancels or delays a match until the court is dry enough to be playable.

— Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of delays

Verb

If that system slows, showers could linger longer in the Kansas City region.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
Odin is a bionic dog, with titanium teeth and a prosthetic foot from injuries sustained during wartime, but nothing slows him down, not even a plane crash.

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of slows

Verb

Existing law also blocks most states from systematically purging voters from their rolls within 90 days of an election, said David Becker, an election law expert who leads the Center for Election Innovation and Research.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
If your browser blocks a file or tells you a site looks dangerous, investigate before continuing.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of blocks

Verb

This recipe, which keeps things simple, relies on the winning combination of cinnamon and apples to perfume a vanilla cake with pockets of tender fruit.

— Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Sep. 2026
At the very least, no one wants to feel invisible, especially when our devolving society keeps finding new ways to instill that impression.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of keeps

Verb

The Midwest Regional Reception Center detains close to 500 fathers, mothers, spouses, cousins and friends on behalf of ICE.

— Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026
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

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.

Browse Nearby Words

sets at

sets back

sets by

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sets back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets%20back. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sets back

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fungible

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes