SETTING BACK Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

setting back

verb

present participle of set back

as in holding back

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for setting back

Verb

Jessica held tightly onto the straps of her backpack, holding back her emotions.

— Norma Galeana, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Disney and others went through periods of holding back shows to bolster their SVODs.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of holding back

Verb

With more than seven million people packed into over 9,000 high-rises, efficiency is key here, and people will judge you for holding up lines, hesitating with your Octopus card, or lingering over your dim sum table while others are waiting.

— Lee Cobaj, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
The video appears to show a person near the middle of the street holding up a cellphone to record the SUV when the vehicle’s front-right corner strikes the observer, who tumbles to the ground.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of holding up

Verb

The significance of the phase 3 data extends beyond delaying a recurrence, doctors said.

— Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
According to the county staff report, delaying repairs for a formal bidding process could increase the risk of additional sinkholes, ground collapse and property damage.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of delaying

Verb

Netflix is obviously against the ropes again, after slowing user engagement on the service rattled Wall Street investors and layoffs came this week as a sacrifice to the share price.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Consumers are already holding on to phones for longer, and global smartphone growth is slowing.

— MacKenzie Sigalos,Kif Leswing, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of slowing

Verb

The country's telecom and internet service market is dominated by Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani's Jio and Sunil Mittal's Airtel, with both companies together holding over 80% market share.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
There are more than 300 such foundations across the country, holding over $40 billion in assets, according to Grantmakers In Health (paywall).

— Laura MacDonald, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of holding over

Verb

Neighbors came out and crowded around, arguing with ICE agents, who were detaining a woman.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
This is evident in its determination to contain the protests, deploying over 40,000 security personnel, closing down metro and train stations, barricading central Delhi, suspending mobile Internet, and detaining over 7,000 people.

— Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of detaining

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setting at

setting back

setting by

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“Setting back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setting%20back. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of setting back

verb

Example Sentences

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