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
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
For a 10-inch shell, Vitale says, a 1,000-foot setback and barrier are needed.
—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
28 June 2026
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
The mark bested the previous record set back in 2014.
—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for setback
Noun
The setback for independent agencies came as no surprise, however.
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Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
For a 10-inch shell, Vitale says, a 1,000-foot setback and barrier are needed.
—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
28 June 2026
Verb
The 12-day war, in June 2025, set back Iran’s nuclear program by years.
—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
The mark bested the previous record set back in 2014.
—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for setback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setback
Noun
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Suffering a reversal of fortune, Watson Taylor turned out to be unable to pay for the commission and sold the work in 1821 through Phillips auction house.
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The market experienced a reversal session, with AI leaders and data center infrastructure buildout stocks falling while software and the hyperscalers rebounded.
Verb
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The delay is attributed to Rockstar strategically holding back the trailer, as pre-orders already generated significant buzz.
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And Scott Galloway, an NYU Stern marketing professor and host of The Prof G Pod podcast, agrees that workers are being held back by remote work.
Noun
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Honeywell also completed a one-for-two reverse split, leaving the two securities at broadly comparable technical starting prices.
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But the Philly show is a sting operation reverse-ambush.
Verb
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology identified problems with the building's original design and construction, specifically citing support columns in the underground garage that held up the pool deck.
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In her classic book Atlas Shrugged, Rand used the Greek myth of Atlas holding up the world as a metaphor.
Verb
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Trump is speaking now to a crowd filling the National Mall after being delayed by inclement weather.
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Attendees were told to shelter in nearby government buildings, and the celebration was delayed by a few hours before going on as scheduled.
Verb
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Rather than designing a luxury escape filled with domestic gadgets, the architects have shaped a home that encourages slowing down and reconnecting with nature.
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Even community leaders who have worked on civil rights issues were urging the council to slow down.
Verb
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Officials confirmed that one person was detained in connection with the shooting, but did not confirm if the woman was the individual taken into custody.
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Asylum seekers are getting detained at routine immigration check-ins, and cases are getting fast-tracked through the system.
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 5 Jul. 2026.
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