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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of setback
Nbc News, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
But much of the anxiety and the lasting setbacks weren’t immediately obvious until the ice began to melt.
—Margaret Littman, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 15 Jan. 2026
Its nuclear program has been set back by Israeli strikes.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for setback
Noun
But Kim has overcome that setback.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
But much of the anxiety and the lasting setbacks weren’t immediately obvious until the ice began to melt.
—Margaret Littman, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Its largest crew, a whopping 13 astronauts, was set back in 2009.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 15 Jan. 2026
Its nuclear program has been set back by Israeli strikes.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for setback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setback
Noun
-
Lyft launched Lyft Teen on Monday, a feature that allows 13- to 17-year-olds to hail rides on the app, a reversal of the company’s policy requiring adult supervision for minors.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
And former President Joe Biden made naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication, available over the counter.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These meetings are usually held back-to-back on the day council is scheduled to vote on the budget, so this amendment would eliminate the need to have two meetings.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The book of memoirs did not hold back.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Harvey scored nine points on 4-of-5 shooting, including a brilliant left-handed reverse layup off one of his three offensive rebounds, and had two steals and an assist.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Hybridized by Christian Bedard, this hybrid tea rose features medium to 50-petal count red blooms with a lighter reverse and a mild fruity fragrance.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Building legal structures that hold up over time When done correctly, strategic legal structures bring entity design, trust planning, governance, and real economic purpose together into one cohesive system.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The center is expected to hold up to 10,000 detainees—more than twice the entire population of Social Circle.—
Brian Unger,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Silver firmly stated that the investigation and its findings were not purposely delayed while the Clippers host this All-Star weekend.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Officials from those agencies warned lawmakers that the lapse in funding will leave thousands of personnel working without pay, disrupt disaster reimbursements, delay cyber protections and more.—
Justin Gomez,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps, on extremely long timescales, those heavier elements will sink to the center of the core, producing an inert center that slows the rate of fusion even further.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Predators coaches Andrew Brunette and Darby Hendrickson — well-known for their on-ice work in Minnesota two decades ago — likely spent considerable time with their team going over detailed tactics on how to slow down the red-hot Wild.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Also on Tuesday, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department told ABC News that a person had been detained for questioning in connection with the case and that authorities were preparing a search of a location in relation to the detainee.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
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Of those detained, 73% had no criminal conviction, nearly half had no criminal conviction at all, nor any pending criminal charges; and only 5% had a violent criminal conviction, according to Cato Institute data.—
Heidi Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As engine revs increase, centrifugal force alters the valve timing by a few degrees, either advancing or retarding it.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 17,
New Atlas,
17 June 2025
-
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.—
Luther Ray Abel,
National Review,
9 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Setback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setback. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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