setback
Temporary forward stumble
A setback is an event or development that delays or reverses progress toward a goal.
The word implies temporary rather than permanent defeat—a setback in negotiations, a setback in recovery from illness.
The project suffered a major setback when funding was cut.
In construction and zoning, setback has a technical meaning: the required distance between a building and a property line, street, or other boundary.
Barrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
- roadblockObstruction across a road
- stumbling blockObstacle causing difficulty
barrier · snag · bottleneck · obstruction · difficulty · complication · constraint · limitation
Victory over another
- lossBeing without something
- collapseSudden structural failure
- downfallSudden loss of power
- fiascoHumiliating public failure
debacle · bankruptcy · misfortune · bust · default · underperformance · washout · blunder
Delaying to later
- defermentAuthorized delay of obligation
- holdupTheft by threat
- slowdownReduction in pace
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
lag · interruption · suspension · halt · standstill · pause · backslide · regression
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
- discouragementLoss of confidence
- dejectionState of lowness
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
letdown · bummer · chagrin · dismay · blow · dissatisfaction · displeasure · downer
Violent disturbance of order
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- accidentUnintended harmful event
incident · breakdown · malfunction · outage · derailment · interruption · unforeseen · unexpected
Regaining what was lost
- comebackRecovery after decline
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- determinationFirmness of purpose
overcoming · bounceback · turnaround · rebound · grit · persistence · tenacity · fortitude
hindrance
Barrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
- roadblockObstruction across a road
stumbling block · barrier · snag · bottleneck · obstruction · difficulty · complication · constraint · limitation · interference
defeat
Victory over another
fiasco · debacle · bankruptcy · misfortune · bust · default · underperformance · washout · blunder · flop
postponement
Delaying to later
stall · lag · interruption · suspension · halt · standstill · pause · backslide · regression · slippage
frustration
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
- discouragementLoss of confidence
- dejectionState of lowness
disillusionment · letdown · bummer · chagrin · dismay · blow · dissatisfaction · displeasure · downer · demoralization
upheaval
Violent disturbance of order
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- emergencySerious sudden danger
accident · incident · breakdown · malfunction · outage · derailment · interruption · unforeseen · unexpected · surprise
recovery
Regaining what was lost
- comebackRecovery after decline
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
determination · overcoming · bounceback · turnaround · rebound · grit · persistence · tenacity · fortitude · adaptability
- setbacksfailing, stuck, losing, stumbles, hit a snag
- challengeschallenge, difficult, hard, challenging, tough
- discouragementdiscouragement, dejection, defeatism, disappointment, letdown
- going backwardsregression, throwback, relapse, backslide, reversal
- compound wordsbookmark, breakdown, sunlight, breakup, snowflake
- careersdoctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, nurse
setbackbreakthrough
Sudden important advance
advance · progress · leap forward · step forward · headway