as in holds back
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets back
Verb
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Sophie holds back and cries in her room.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026 -
Neutral is considered a spot that neither boosts nor holds back economic activity, and the funds rate is just half a percentage point above where most on the FOMC see the rate landing over the long term.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Paired with the Country Fried Steak, an 8-ounce beef steak lightly coated, fried, and topped with white gravy, the table has something substantial that holds up as the game stretches on.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
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Cumming holds up his iPhone to the camera, proudly boasting about still-unseen looks in all their campy and ridiculous glory.—
Jonathan Borge,
InStyle,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The association warned that any operational disruption that delays shipments exposes exporters to immediate financial losses and the risk of losing future orders.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Feb. 2026
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When an airport cancels or delays a flight, that means additional cargo is delayed.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Watching the same problems repeat because no one slows things down is what pushed me to run.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 2026
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Freezing significantly slows this process and helps preserve both flavor and freshness.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pests can also be particularly harmful to tender, young plant stems.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
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Hardy hibiscus and swamp hibiscus need a cleanup pruning of the dead stems every year.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Zofran, the brand name for ondansetron, is a prescription anti-nausea medication that blocks serotonin receptors in your gut and brain that, in turn, prevents them from triggering nausea and vomiting.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
SELF,
9 Feb. 2026
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The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho announced a lawsuit in June targeting part of the law that blocks access to HIV medication.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After House Democrats revealed plans to force votes disapproving of the president’s Canada tariffs as soon as this week, GOP leaders sought to resuscitate their year-long procedural blockade that keeps those resolutions off the floor.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Fundamentally, however, the recurring sticking point keeps coming back to injuries.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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What are your rights if ICE detains you?—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Independent groups like Human Rights Watch say the Venezuelan government intimidates human rights advocates, arrests and detains protesters and harasses journalists.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
14 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Sets back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets%20back. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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