as in reversal
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
The explorers persevered despite suffering setbacks that would have discouraged lesser souls.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to hold back
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of setback
Mike Kaye
updated January 3, Charlotte Observer, 4 Jan. 2026
For China, Maduro’s removal is a major setback; for Russia, too, which has provided some modest help to Maduro (a Russian aircraft linked to the former Wagner group landed, possibly carrying military goods, in October of last year).
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
José pulled up an image of a modest, light-colored home, set back from a sidewalk and a paved road.
—Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for setback
Noun
Every time Young would have a positive play or two, a drive would be stunted by a penalty or an execution setback.
—Verb
Miller set the North Dakota State program record for most completions and passing yards in a single season, passing Carson Wentz’s record set back in 2014.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for setback
Noun
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To the contrary, though the film is frequently funny, Brewer takes their ambitions and reversals seriously.—
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State officials said Thursday that the FBI would be solely in charge of Wednesday's deadly encounter, in a reversal from earlier beliefs that the probe would be a dual federal-state effort.—
Verb
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In court filings and a hearing earlier Friday, the states contended that the government did not have a legal reason for holding back the money from those states.—
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Christopher Patterson's mother held back tears as his family and friends gathered on Friday outside the home where the 23-year-old lost his life two days before.—
Noun
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Good first put her vehicle in reverse, and then accelerated forward.—
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Becca Good pulls on the passenger side door to try and get in, and the vehicle briefly moves in reverse.—
Verb
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The three tiers are made of durable and strong metal wire that can hold up to five pounds each.—
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In other words, don’t stand in the aisle and hold up traffic.—
Verb
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If Takaichi cannot enact the budget by the end of March, her government would have to compile a stop-gap budget, which could delay execution of spending measures.—
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For people with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, delaying or not getting care could be fatal.—
Verb
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Embiid played in his fifth consecutive game contest since being slowed by early season injuries.—
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Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.—
Verb
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The same day, four homeless tribal men in Minneapolis were also detained, Frank Star Comes Out, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, said on social media.—
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SkyCal was overhead as officers detained one person.—
Verb
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As engine revs increase, centrifugal force alters the valve timing by a few degrees, either advancing or retarding it.—
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Genesis Yes, the thing retarding recruitment below pre-2022 levels may be, at least in part, a military-wide health-records update that, much like MyChart in the civilian health-care world, tracks the medications of all service members.—
Cite this Entry
“Setback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setback. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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