Defeat and Setback

Similar meaning words

Defeat noun - Failure to win a contest.

Usage example: sore losers still griping about their defeat in the basketball game earlier that week

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Setback is a synonym for defeat in frustration topic. In some cases you can use "Setback" instead a noun "Defeat", when it comes to topics like overthrow, disappointment.

Setback noun - A change in status for the worse usually temporarily.

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Defeat is a synonym for setback in disappointment topic. You can use "Defeat" instead a noun "Setback", if it concerns topics such as hold-up.

long	long defeat	long setback
many	many defeat	many setback
true	true defeat	true setback
massive	massive defeat	massive setback
Other adjectives: big, great, huge, permanent, major, immediate, humiliating, possible, final, catastrophic, temporary, latest, recent, devastating, tactical, biggest.

Any defeat or setback is maybe all part of the plan, or at worst a temporary Out-of-Character Moment.

Source: World's Best Warrior
In fact, this talent is one of her strongest assets, as she is able to escape virtually every dangerous situation she's put in and quickly recover from any setback or defeat, at least until Mystify the Magician.

Source: Literature / Everworld
Kael'Thas' defeat at Tempest Keep was "only a setback," which you learn when you fight him again at Magister's Terrace.

Source: Broke Your Arm Punching Out Cthulhu

Cite this Source

Setback and Defeat. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/defeat/setback

Defeat & Setback. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/defeat/setback>.

Setback or Defeat. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/defeat/setback.

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