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
The index reflects these setbacks.
—
Chelsea Follett, Oc Register, 1 Feb. 2026
Friday’s ruling is among several setbacks for the president’s executive order, which has faced multiple lawsuits.
—Tom Verdin, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
These reforms create predictability and reduce uncertainty around eligibility for streamlined review, allowing projects to move from design to construction without unnecessary setbacks.
—Carlina Rivera, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
But the deal was mired in setbacks and litigation.
—Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
SpongeBob SquarePants models optimism and perseverance, helping kids learn to stay positive and try again after setbacks.
—Liz Regalia, Parents, 31 Jan. 2026
The most recent setbacks were a trio of killer freezes in the 1980s that pruned the acreage devoted to citrus by more than 70 percent and forced all but one of the county’s citrus-processing plants to close.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Setting the 2028 primary calendar could represent one of the first major signals about how the party is addressing its setbacks in the last presidential election.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
The former Washington Huskies star suffered ACL setbacks during his freshman year with the Indiana Hoosiers in 2018 and once again during the 2020 season.
—Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Chelsea Follett, Oc Register, 1 Feb. 2026
Friday’s ruling is among several setbacks for the president’s executive order, which has faced multiple lawsuits.
—Tom Verdin, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
These reforms create predictability and reduce uncertainty around eligibility for streamlined review, allowing projects to move from design to construction without unnecessary setbacks.
—Carlina Rivera, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
But the deal was mired in setbacks and litigation.
—Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
SpongeBob SquarePants models optimism and perseverance, helping kids learn to stay positive and try again after setbacks.
—Liz Regalia, Parents, 31 Jan. 2026
The most recent setbacks were a trio of killer freezes in the 1980s that pruned the acreage devoted to citrus by more than 70 percent and forced all but one of the county’s citrus-processing plants to close.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Setting the 2028 primary calendar could represent one of the first major signals about how the party is addressing its setbacks in the last presidential election.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
The former Washington Huskies star suffered ACL setbacks during his freshman year with the Indiana Hoosiers in 2018 and once again during the 2020 season.
—Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setbacks
Noun
-
Target’s sales cratered, in part because consumers were angry about its DEI reversals.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The past week first showed some negative implications and then some reversals.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 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 2 Feb. 2026.
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