setbacknoun [ C ]
uk/ˈset.bæk/us/ˈset.bæk/C1 something that happens that delays or prevents a process from developing:
Sally had been recovering well from her operation, but yesterday she experienced/suffered a setback.
There has been a slight/temporary setback in our plans.
See also
set sth/sb back
set sth back
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Difficult things and people
- a (heavy) cross to bear idiom
- a bitter pill (to swallow) idiom
- a hard/tough nut to crack idiom
- albatross
- bane
- chill
- equation
- handicap
- hiccup
- hot potato
- impediment
- job
- labyrinth
- liability
- nut
- the chill wind of sth idiom
- the hard way idiom
- the sharp end
- thorn in your flesh/side idiom
- tie-up
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