setback

[ set-bak ]

noun

1. a check to progress; a reverse or defeat:

   The new law was a setback.

2. Architecture. a recession of the upper part of a building from the building line, as to lighten the structure or to permit a desired amount of light and air to reach ground level at the foot of the building.
3. an act or instance of setting back:

   A nightly setback of your home thermostats can save a great deal of fuel.

4. Also a downward temperature adjustment of a thermostat, especially performed automatically, as by a timer.

Word History and Origins

Origin of setback¹

First recorded in 1665–75; noun use of verb phrase set back

Example Sentences

Now to see whether ViacomCBS is able to avoid the setbacks that have waylaid NBCUniversal’s Peacock and WarnerMedia’s HBO Max.

From Digiday

To prevent another unpleasant and surprising setback, the commission also called for a whistleblower system.

From Singularity Hub 

Backing away from the deal would be a rare setback for Arnault, who built his empire through a string of acquisitions, amassing a conglomerate encompassing everything from Dior fashions to Dom Perignon Champagne.

From Fortune

The setback comes as a group of international scientists raised questions over a fast-moving vaccine from Russia, saying some results of a study appeared improbable.

From Fortune

Despite such setbacks, cryptocurrency veterans believe yield farming and DeFi are part of a massive and permanent expansion of their industry.

From Fortune

This is hardly the “setback for gay marriage” that some enthusiastic headline-writers have proclaimed.

From The Daily Beast

It meant more to our father to see us deal with a setback and try to bounce back than to watch how we handled our successes.

From The Daily Beast

Each new setback, whether contrived or not, makes Jarvis newly “determined not to give the cameras the reaction they craved.”

From The Daily Beast

Seneca encouraged followers to possess the strength of immunity to setback, but never withheld his human touch.

From The Daily Beast

If the New York City vote passes, as it is likely to, it will be the highest-profile setback for e-cigarettes in this country.

From The Daily Beast

Some Manchurian walnuts also got a setback with spring frosts, and some did not.

From Project Gutenberg

He polled less than a third of the votes, and Sinn Fein received a serious setback.

From Project Gutenberg

"Look at her mouth—made for passion—and the very setback of her throat—" He threw his head back in Clara's defiant manner.

From Project Gutenberg

There is usually a setback in the wall at the floor level, but this practice was not followed in all the rooms.

From Project Gutenberg

The lawyer quickly returned, having received another setback.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blow
• defeat
• delay
• difficulty
• hindrance
• impediment
• misfortune
• obstacle
• reversal
• set-back
• slowdown
• stumbling block
• trouble