SETTING BACK Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

setting back

verb

present participle of set back

as in holding back

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for setting back

Verb

Many CEOs who run this experiment are surprised by how much intelligence the team had been holding back.

— Janet M Harvey, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
But that's not the only thing holding back first-time buyers.

— Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Definition of holding back

Verb

This ‘reflecting society’ element is why it’s called ‘Black Mirror’, as it could be said the show is holding up a ‘black mirror’ to society.

— William Worrall, Space.com, 15 July 2026
While consumers and retail companies have been holding up surprisingly well through a world of trouble — from war to inflation to political uncertainty — the fashion industry is still vulnerable to shocks on Wall Street.

— Evan Clark, Footwear News, 8 July 2026

Definition of holding up

Verb

In May, the agency proposed delaying emission standards set to kick in for new light- and medium-duty cars and trucks starting with model year 2027.

— Bloomberg, Oc Register, 9 July 2026
But, for older men with no pain or discomfort, doctors may suggest watchful waiting, delaying surgery until the need is clear.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026

Definition of delaying

Verb

The back pass rule was introduced in 1992 to prevent goalkeepers from picking up the ball after a pass from a team-mate, and slowing down play by keeping hold of the ball, which reduced goals at the Italy World Cup in 1990.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 14 July 2026
The rate of cases seems to be slowing, but more illnesses could still pop up.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Definition of slowing

Verb

Landa worked with the Association to get the original project approved in 2017 after holding over 30 public meetings.

— Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
And moviegoers turned out to indies from Rosemead to The Chronology of Water, All That’s Left Of You and more, new and holding over, limited, wide and top ten.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2026

Definition of holding over

Verb

DeSantis credited the site with detaining almost 21,000 immigrants and touted it as a model for how states could partner with the federal government on immigration enforcement.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
The community response team was named in honor of an Antioch man who died in December 2020, after experiencing a medical emergency while Antioch officers were detaining him during a mental health crisis.

— Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Definition of detaining

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setting at

setting back

setting by

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Style

“Setting back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setting%20back. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of setting back

verb

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