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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to hold back
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of set back
Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 17 Aug. 2025
And even if the recent American strikes on Iran set back Tehran’s program for a while, other countries may build their own.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Rob Reed, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Routh, who is representing himself, suffered a setback at the start of jury selection.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set back
Noun
That could set back research at a critical time.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 17 Aug. 2025
And even if the recent American strikes on Iran set back Tehran’s program for a while, other countries may build their own.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
Regardless of these setbacks, Lando Norris has executed a brilliant and nearly flawless comeback to take a commanding lead in the WDC.
—Rob Reed, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Routh, who is representing himself, suffered a setback at the start of jury selection.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for set back
Noun
-
However, big gains can follow sharp reversals – but how has LRCX behaved after prior drops?—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Treat partner vetting like investor due diligence in reverse.—
Steve Taplin,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And second-round rookie Trey Amos held up well at cornerback.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
-
That may be the reason equity futures are mostly holding up.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
After lightning delayed kickoff for an hour, Colleyville Heritage (1-1) fell behind quickly in a back-and-forth game.—
Jordan Neal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
-
In the last few years, Beyoncé, Pink, and Noah Kahan, among others, have had concerts canceled or delayed by extreme lightning, rain, or wildfire smoke.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Riding the rails gives you time to slow down and look at the canopy’s changing hues, from chartreuse to crimson.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share