SETBACKS Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

setbacks

noun

plural of setback

as in reversals

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

status quos

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 setbacks Understanding, Duminil-Copin argued, is not gained solely through theorems and proofs but also through setbacks. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026 To avoid any setbacks and ensure the young prince’s safety, the school has already banned photography and as smartphones on campus. — Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2026 American officials have downplayed these setbacks, promising that the Iranian regime is just one more strike or sanction away from being forced to make concessions. — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2026 The $16 billion project is expected to take around a decade to complete but has already weathered years of political and financial setbacks. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 Negative plays on offense lingered, too, with penalties taking away chunk plays and small mistakes compounding into setbacks. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026 That project was beset by controversies and setbacks, including Essar Steel Minnesota filing for bankruptcy in 2016. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026 Shelford addressed the deckhand’s absence during the episode as his crew grappled with a series of setbacks. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026 But during the shutdown, Brightline ended the deal with Branson’s Virgin Group, saying that the company’s reputation had diminished as a result of financial setbacks. — David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for setbacks

Noun

The president, who generally resists admitting fault, has recently made several reversals responding to ethical concerns.

— Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026
But while anti-immigrant, pro-Russian parties have made inroads across the continent in recent years, there have also been notable reversals, and some have softened their views to build coalitions with moderates.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of reversals

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set back

setbacks

set by

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“Setbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setbacks. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of setbacks

noun

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