as in reversals
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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Recent Examples of setbacks
The fair has already seen a series of setbacks that include cancellations from artists on the lineup, sparse crowds, electricity issues and even melted ice cream.
—
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
But for many of the organization’s other pitching prospects in recent seasons, injury setbacks have been especially difficult to overcome.
—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Even for the Kremlin, which often plays down painful setbacks, the stark reality has become hard to sidestep.
—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Story’s time in Boston has been marked by setbacks, and this season has been the latest to go off the rails.
—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
Matt Martin, 47th, said when asked if the last few years of persistent setbacks should have taken this long to rectify.
—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
The bulk of this final season has the team dealing with this massive storm that’s created a slew of setbacks at a make-or-break moment for the restaurant.
—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Despite these setbacks, Spain successfully commissioned the lead submarine, S-81 Isaac Peral, in 2023, demonstrating the program’s return to schedule and validating many of the new technologies incorporated into the class.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
26 June 2026
Those deployments faced a litany of legal setbacks, including all the way up to the Supreme Court.
—
Kat Lonsdorf,
NPR,
26 June 2026
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
But for many of the organization’s other pitching prospects in recent seasons, injury setbacks have been especially difficult to overcome.
—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Even for the Kremlin, which often plays down painful setbacks, the stark reality has become hard to sidestep.
—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Story’s time in Boston has been marked by setbacks, and this season has been the latest to go off the rails.
—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
Matt Martin, 47th, said when asked if the last few years of persistent setbacks should have taken this long to rectify.
—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
The bulk of this final season has the team dealing with this massive storm that’s created a slew of setbacks at a make-or-break moment for the restaurant.
—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Despite these setbacks, Spain successfully commissioned the lead submarine, S-81 Isaac Peral, in 2023, demonstrating the program’s return to schedule and validating many of the new technologies incorporated into the class.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
26 June 2026
Those deployments faced a litany of legal setbacks, including all the way up to the Supreme Court.
—
Kat Lonsdorf,
NPR,
26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for setbacks
Noun
-
Companies that address operational reliability early will avoid fragmented deployments, unmanaged risks and expensive reversals.
-
But as the November election draws closer and Republicans are trying to defend their majorities, Trump is instead needling Congress with his demands and reversals, driving several Republican senators to disparage his actions publicly for the first time.
Noun
-
The year ahead now promises multiple serious reverses.
-
Most of those came on reverses or other wide runs.
Cite this Entry
“Setbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/setbacks. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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