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

Relevance

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 As the cystic fibrosis community gathers this week in Atlanta for its largest annual gathering, Kramer-Golinkoff is hoping those patients will be a big part of the conversation, particularly after recent scientific setbacks. — Gerry Smith, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 Even major battlefield setbacks may not push the group towards compromise if its leadership believes any concessions should be part of a broader regional bargain. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026 On Monday, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed that the negotiations had encountered some major setbacks. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026 His order follows a year of setbacks and uncertainty for Knobel’s proposed 110-unit project. — Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2026 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

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 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of setbacks

noun

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