as in reversal
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the colonists 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of setback
Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2025
The setback prompted the immediate suspension of the program.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
Peter Schroeder, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025
Amy Bach, with the consumer group United Policyholders, worries these catastrophic fires will set back efforts to bring insurance companies back to the market in places like Pacific Palisades and Altadena.
—Greg Allen, NPR, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for setback 
Noun
The planned sale of north Charlotte mall was dealt setbacks following high-profile incidents leading to safety concerns and several store closings like Apple and Buckle.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2025
The setback prompted the immediate suspension of the program.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
Verb
In October 1977, for example, then CIA Director Stansfield Turner abruptly fired some 800 operations officers, tanking morale at the agency and setting back human intelligence operations for years to come.
—Peter Schroeder, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025
Amy Bach, with the consumer group United Policyholders, worries these catastrophic fires will set back efforts to bring insurance companies back to the market in places like Pacific Palisades and Altadena.
—Greg Allen, NPR, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for setback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setback
Noun
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Throughout the government, new appointees have been touting their reversals of diversity standards—the signal feature of what has been a rapid two-week effort to remake the preëxisting bureaucracy with an America First agenda.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
The New Yorker,
2 Feb. 2025
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Zoom in: Local leaders and nonprofits, like the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and Metro Inclusive Health, breathed a sigh of relief after the reversal.—
Yacob Reyes,
Axios,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In that regard, the Inside the NBA analyst did not hold back amid this second Butler team suspension, one scheduled to end with Saturday night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2025
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Amorim has always been a firm believer that honesty is the best policy, whether that be with his players, staff or the media, and the 39-year-old has not held back in his assessment of Manchester United.—
Charlotte Harpur,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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That’s proof positive that our Dividend Magnet—or the tendency for dividend growth to propel share prices higher—also works in reverse.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Douglas Watkins of McDowell County does it in reverse, so to speak.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Josh and Monica held up a white No. 13 jersey, with head coach Ben Johnson’s arm around Josh’s shoulder.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
31 Jan. 2025
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Others held up signs bearing the names and faces of hostages who remain held in Hamas' captivity.—
NBC News,
NBC News,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Hours after taking office, Trump signed multiple executive orders, including one action delaying a nationwide ban of the social media platform TikTok.—
Alex Thomas,
arkansasonline.com,
26 Jan. 2025
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Construction on the museum began in 2005, yet years of economic instability, political turmoil, and COVID-19 delayed development.—
Kate McMahon,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Huskies turned the ball over a season-high 25 times, but even Marquette’s 29 points off those throwaways couldn’t slow UConn.—
Lindsay Schnell,
The Athletic,
2 Feb. 2025
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But Berntsen and a team of researchers looked into how multifocal contact lenses could slow the progression of this disease.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA TODAY,
1 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Arrested in March 2022 and detained before trial, he was given the longest sentence related to the Jan. 6 attack at the time.—
Claire Healy,
Miami Herald,
25 Jan. 2025
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The documents do not mention on what grounds the individuals were detained but did list party affiliation – including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Blockchain thus provides companies and banks a way to undo Basel II’s and Basel III’s retarding effect on trade finance while complying with their requirements.—
Rebecca Liao,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Aug. 2017
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Turning the lithium oxide—the product of discharging the battery—back to lithium is difficult and only partially possible even when assisted by special catalysts: The oxide builds up and retards the process, limiting the number of charge-discharge cycles to a mere handful.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
31 Jan. 2011
Thesaurus Entries Near setback
Cite this Entry
“Setback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setback. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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