setback

noun
UK /ˈsetbæk/
US /ˈsetbæk/

A setback is a problem that makes you go backward instead of forward.

Losing the game was a setback, but the team practiced harder.

SYNONYMS

problemdelaydifficultyobstaclereverse

RELATED WORDS

failuretroubledelaydifficulty

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A change that makes a situation worse than it was.

The storm was a setback for the building project.

3. A problem that slows down progress toward a goal.

She had a setback in her recovery but kept going.

4. An unexpected problem that stops something from happening on time.

The broken machine caused a setback in production.