as in reversal
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to hold back
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of setback
Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2025
What To Know The decision represents a fresh setback for Trump, who has argued that the requirement is necessary to restore public confidence in elections.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Philip Elliott, Time, 31 Mar. 2025
The complex is set back at Hamlin and Cortland to provide a small public plaza at the four-story building’s entrance.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for setback
Noun
After Barberis dealt Martin a major setback in the case in October 2016, the attacks began.
—Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2025
What To Know The decision represents a fresh setback for Trump, who has argued that the requirement is necessary to restore public confidence in elections.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
Madison politics has been drawing outsized attention for more than a decade now, starting with a string of union-testing efforts and a recall-palooza that set back a progressive march.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 31 Mar. 2025
The complex is set back at Hamlin and Cortland to provide a small public plaza at the four-story building’s entrance.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for setback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setback
Noun
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In a major reversal, the federal government is restoring the records of hundreds, and possibly thousands, of international students whose entries in a crucial database the government had abruptly terminated in recent weeks, a move that had complicated their ability to stay in the country.—
Adrian Florido,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2025
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In a stunning reversal, that gargantuan mammal had caught me.—
Nina E. Cerfolio,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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With many teams on the edge of profitability, there are no gimmes here — while the relegation system means many teams will hold back riskier young talent in favour of steadier older riders.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
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The first ever Kentucky Derby was first held back in 1875, and multiple winners have since become household names across North America, such as Secretariat and American Pharoah.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
3 May 2025
Noun
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In Vietnam, dusty provincial museums and newer, sleeker ones inaugurated for the 50th anniversary echo the sentiment in reverse, displaying mannequins of wily peasant farmers taking on the U.S. war machine.—
Made by History,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
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That’s one of the most normal things for a story that was always told in reverse.—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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As for washing, the white will hold up to about 20 cycles before starting to look a little dingy, but the black holds up fine, and both will hold their shape.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
25 Apr. 2025
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Premium and corporate demand held up — but broader growth, Delta warned, has stalled under the weight of tariffs and economic volatility.—
Catherine Baab,
Quartz,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The execution was delayed from its anticipated time of 6 p.m. ET as the United States Supreme Court considered Hutchinson's final appeals.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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The construction schedule for Brooklyn is already roughly three years beyond that deadline and the timelines for the completion of the others are further delayed.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2025
Verb
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In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here's what to know: Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Apr. 2025
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But Arthur's lack of limbs hasn't slowed him down, and he was adopted soon after by his loving family.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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While Carlos wasn’t detained, day worker advocates say operations like the one in Pomona have long-lasting impacts on those who are apprehended, as well as their families and communities.—
Stephanie Elam,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
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Many of those detained in Sunday’s raid are expected to face federal immigration charges, according to DEA Rocky Mountain.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 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
Cite this Entry
“Setback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setback. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
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