1
: a checking of progress
4
: a placing of a face of a building on a line some distance to the rear of the building line or of the wall below
also
: the area produced by a setback
5
: automatic scheduled adjustment to a lower temperature setting of a thermostat
6
: the distance of a structure or other feature (such as a well or septic system) from the property line or other feature
Synonyms
Examples of setback in a Sentence
Noun
Despite some early setbacks, they eventually became a successful company.
the colonists persevered despite suffering setbacks that would have discouraged lesser souls
Recent Examples on the Web
Trefis Team, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
The labor standoff — the first strike by Boeing machinists since an eight-week walkout in 2008 — is the latest setback in a volatile year for the aerospace giant.
—David Koenig, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Orion Rummler, Them, 31 Oct. 2024
At the same time, the pandemic set back the United Village redevelopment project around the stadium.
—Kyle Stokes, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for setback 
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Noun
Now if these credits are lost there could be a considerable setback for First Solar.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
The labor standoff — the first strike by Boeing machinists since an eight-week walkout in 2008 — is the latest setback in a volatile year for the aerospace giant.
—David Koenig, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
But, although the question before the court has become more specific, this ruling still has the potential to broadly set back LGBTQ+ rights.
—Orion Rummler, Them, 31 Oct. 2024
At the same time, the pandemic set back the United Village redevelopment project around the stadium.
—Kyle Stokes, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for setback
Dictionary Entries Near setback
Cite this Entry
“Setback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/setback. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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setback
noun
set·back
ˈset-ˌbak 
: a slowing of progress : a temporary defeat
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