setbacks

NOUN

disappointment

Synonyms

STRONGEST

blow defeat delay difficulty hindrance impediment misfortune obstacle reversal slowdown stumbling block trouble

STRONG

about-face bath bottom check comedown flip-flop hitch rebuff regress regression reverse upset

WEAK

backset drawing board hold-up reversal of fortune whole new ballgame

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advance advantage aid assistance blessing contentment expedition furtherance help peace

WEAK

achievement boon boost success

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

setbacks

His Pakatan Harapan coalition has suffered setbacks in recent state elections in the runup to regional and national polls, which must be held by February 2028.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

There were setbacks, including a Champions League final defeat by Chelsea in 2021 that left him unable to speak to his own family afterwards.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

Elsewhere in the portfolio, the company has also faced recent setbacks that have disappointed investors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

There are a lot of setbacks, and a lot of sleeping in the office, especially in the first five or 10 years.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026

Ultimately these setbacks proved to be minor ones for Burnham and Root.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson