as in reversals
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the colonists persevered despite suffering setbacks that would have discouraged lesser souls
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Recent Examples of setbacks
Farming has always been a challenging endeavor, one that operates at the whim of external forces but with little margin for setbacks.
—
The Virginian Pilot and Daily Press Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Building codes also pose challenges that can impact sinks and setbacks for fire safety for ovens.
—John W. Bateman, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Despite these setbacks, the condo and townhome segment demonstrated resilience, with average prices rising 9% to nearly $944,000.
—Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 2 May 2026
The project has faced several setbacks.
—Arkansas Online, 2 May 2026
The ambition never gained traction due to logistical setbacks, the people said.
—Thomas Buckley, Fortune, 2 May 2026
Despite the setbacks, Rivera and Nuhfer continued to communicate with Sessions and arranged for the congressman to travel to Caracas to meet with Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, at a military compound near the presidential palace on April 2, 2018.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
And for a program that has spent years in tests and setbacks, that small step matters more than the length of the video.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
But noise, as well as glare, are typically buffered with vegetative landscaping and setbacks, or the distance between the property line and the nearest structure.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2026
The Virginian Pilot and Daily Press Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Building codes also pose challenges that can impact sinks and setbacks for fire safety for ovens.
—John W. Bateman, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Despite these setbacks, the condo and townhome segment demonstrated resilience, with average prices rising 9% to nearly $944,000.
—Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 2 May 2026
The project has faced several setbacks.
—Arkansas Online, 2 May 2026
The ambition never gained traction due to logistical setbacks, the people said.
—Thomas Buckley, Fortune, 2 May 2026
Despite the setbacks, Rivera and Nuhfer continued to communicate with Sessions and arranged for the congressman to travel to Caracas to meet with Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, at a military compound near the presidential palace on April 2, 2018.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
And for a program that has spent years in tests and setbacks, that small step matters more than the length of the video.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
But noise, as well as glare, are typically buffered with vegetative landscaping and setbacks, or the distance between the property line and the nearest structure.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setbacks
Noun
-
What followed was a series of appeals and reversals that kept Rose on (and off) death row for nearly 50 years.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Supreme Court upheld the reversals, and the three men later pleaded to voluntary manslaughter counts — resulting in them being paroled — under an agreement that required them to admit to being responsible for Tyree’s death in open court.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Most of those came on reverses or other wide runs.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Setbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setbacks. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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