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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of set back
Meredith Wolf Schizer, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
That roundup included new Blu-ray offerings and a special vinyl, which helped propel the set back onto the Vinyl Albums chart.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The Vaqueros were turned away on their first possession after driving from their 20 to the Laguna Hills 9, but such setbacks were rare.
—Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set back
Noun
Their missile production capability has been set back also by a significant period of time.
—Meredith Wolf Schizer, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
That roundup included new Blu-ray offerings and a special vinyl, which helped propel the set back onto the Vinyl Albums chart.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
As the Blue Jays look to hold onto their lead in the division, sticking to that philosophy in the face of some setbacks could make the difference.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The Vaqueros were turned away on their first possession after driving from their 20 to the Laguna Hills 9, but such setbacks were rare.
—Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set back
Noun
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However, big gains can follow sharp reversals – but how has LRCX behaved after prior drops?—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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These processes follow the solar cycle, an 11-year cycle of increasing and decreasing activity on the sun when the sun's magnetic field exhibits a full magnetic reversal.—
Ryan French,
Space.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Occasionally held back by a very mid-'00s aesthetic and stylistic choices that come across second-rate David Lynch, No Smoking is nonetheless an effectively paranoid adaptation of King for another culture.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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This means developers can now leverage a wide range of AI models, from state-of-the-art LLMs to custom CNN architectures, without being held back by inefficient hardware.—
Lee-Lean Shu,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Animal Crossing decompilation community had just finished reverse-engineering the game's source code, providing readable C instead of PowerPC assembly.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
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Treat partner vetting like investor due diligence in reverse.—
Steve Taplin,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And second-round rookie Trey Amos held up well at cornerback.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
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That may be the reason equity futures are mostly holding up.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More than 300 flights were delayed at Denver International Airport on Saturday due to a ground delay caused by thunderstorms in the area.—
Marco Cummings,
Denver Post,
14 Sep. 2025
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Previously, researchers faced strict regulations that could delay their work.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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These equity gains, however, have slowed down since 2023, when historically elevated mortgage rates and sky-high prices started to put a damper on demand.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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Japan's exports slow their decline.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to the New York Times, this individual was the second person detained and later released by law enforcement authorities after questioning.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Seoul, South Korea — More than 300 South Korean workers detained by immigration authorities in Georgia last week arrived home on Friday, marking the end of a saga that has stunned their nation and threatened to upend a close bilateral friendship between the US and South Korea.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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.—
Luther Ray Abel,
National Review,
9 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Set back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/set%20back. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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