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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of setback
EW.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson had a setback during his recovery from his Achilles injury, putting his availability for next season in question, general manager Andrew Berry said Monday.
—Zac Jackson, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Sharon Lerner and Al Shaw, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
Pittsburgh’s second set of downs was set back after Russell Wilson was sacked on second down.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 25 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for setback 
Noun
Amid this emotionally devastating setback, a lab offers her a substance which promises to transform her into a a more perfect version of herself.
—EW.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson had a setback during his recovery from his Achilles injury, putting his availability for next season in question, general manager Andrew Berry said Monday.
—Zac Jackson, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
And one of the longest-running attempts to restrict a dangerous chemical in American history would be set back yet again.
—Sharon Lerner and Al Shaw, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
Pittsburgh’s second set of downs was set back after Russell Wilson was sacked on second down.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 25 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for setback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setback
Noun
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The judicial branch of the federal government will have some decisions of its own to make about the monument, and may inject still more reversals.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2025
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Meta’s decision to eliminate its fact-checking program marks a sharp reversal for the major social media company, quickly prompting questions over the firm’s direction as President-elect Trump heads back to the Oval Office.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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And while many European leaders have been measured in their response, Canadians have not held back.—
Jim Morris,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2025
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Ukrainian defenders are steadfastly holding back the onslaught of the occupiers, inflicting significant losses on them.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
Newsweek,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Of course, this often happens in reverse, and negativity can spread across the internet, making life hard for all those involved.—
Callum Booth,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
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Before the center opened, Jala Wilson of Carbondale had spent over a year driving 100 miles a day to drop her son at child care, head to her nursing classes in the opposite direction, and then do it again in reverse at pickup time.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Mainland Chinese stocks held up better, falling 6% — which Citi analysts attributed to easier monetary policy and falling Chinese government bond yields.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
19 Jan. 2025
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Opposite him, Riley Moss has the skills and mentality to hold up to frequent targeting by opposing quarterbacks.—
Parker Gabriel,
The Denver Post,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Global bond markets are on the rise Bond markets are moving upward, with the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield climbing to 4.78% as investors anticipate that the Federal Reserve may delay lowering interest rates until 2026.—
Vinamrata Chaturvedi,
Quartz,
14 Jan. 2025
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Extreme weather across the country delayed and changed the flight path of wild birds, the main carriers of the virus.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The country’s factory activity has been expanding for the past three months, although the pace of expansion slowed in December.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
9 Jan. 2025
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But, when subscriber growth slowed, HERC’s operating costs remained high.—
Cal Newport,
The New Yorker,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Both suspects were detained, and evidence was secured, including the firearm used in the crime, Indian Head Park police said.—
Chuck Fieldman,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2025
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Monday marks three years since Barnes, a 67-year-old father of two who grew up in Huntsville and most recently lived in Texas, was first detained in Russia.—
Jared Kofsky,
ABC News,
13 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 22 Jan. 2025.
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