a costlier setback

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a costlier setback" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation or event that has resulted in a more expensive or significant loss or difficulty than anticipated. Example: "The unexpected equipment failure resulted in a costlier setback than we had budgeted for, delaying the project by several weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Angelica had a costlier setback.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Losing the competition for the Energy Group was a costly setback for Pacificorp.

The New York Times

For Nokia, changing such an important ingredient in its products would have been a costly setback too.

The New York Times

The decision is a costly setback for Shell, which had waged a vigorous campaign to expand offshore exploration in Alaska.

The New York Times

Injuries have hit a number of World Cup teams hard in recent weeks, and the United States may now have also suffered a costly setback to a workhorse player.

The New York Times - Sports

Heavily promoted to the lawn care industry as environmentally friendly because of its low toxicity to mammals, the product has proved a costly setback for the company.

The New York Times

Niese limited Cincinnati's offense for seven innings, and Daniel Murphy hit a three-run homer, leading the Mets to a 4-2 vicTuesdayesday night that dealt a costly setback to the Reds' hopes of another division title.

The New York Times - Sports

It is a costly setback for the companies, which are among the fastest-growing carmakers in the United States and self-proclaimed leaders in the highly competitive area of fuel economy.

The New York Times

The terrorists' aim is to confront the United States with such a costly setback that it will withdraw its forces, a move that would diminish American influence in the Persian Gulf and other distant regions.

The New York Times

Score another victory for Microsoft and a costly setback for IBM.

Forbes

The recall is a costly setback for Samsung, which was counting on Galaxy Note 7 to bolster sales as rivals such as Apple Inc <AAPL.O> launch new devices.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a costlier setback" when you want to emphasize that a particular problem or obstacle has resulted in greater financial implications than initially expected.

Common error

Avoid using "a costlier setback" when the primary impact is not financial. If the setback's significance lies in delays, reputational damage, or other non-monetary factors, choose a more appropriate descriptor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a costlier setback" functions as a noun phrase, where 'costlier' modifies 'setback'. It serves to qualify the nature of the setback, emphasizing its financial implications. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts involving business, sports, and general news.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Sports

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a costlier setback" is a useful way to describe situations where a problem or obstacle has resulted in greater financial implications than initially expected. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and most commonly found in news and business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the emphasis is genuinely on the increased financial burden. As for Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for use in writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a more expensive obstacle

Replaces 'costlier' with a direct synonym, emphasizing the financial aspect of the setback.

a pricier impediment

Uses a more informal synonym for 'expensive', maintaining a focus on monetary cost.

a financially burdensome hurdle

Highlights the financial strain caused by the setback, adding emphasis.

a heavier financial blow

Emphasizes the negative impact of the setback in financial terms.

a more damaging reversal

Shifts focus from cost to the overall negative impact or harm caused.

a more significant impediment

Replaces 'costlier' with 'more significant', broadening the scope beyond just financial implications.

a substantial difficulty

Emphasizes the size and importance of the problem created by the setback.

a major complication

Focuses on the complexity introduced by the setback.

an increased financial burden

Highlights that the setback resulted in elevated financial stress or responsibility.

a regrettable financial consequence

This phrase frames the setback as having undesirable financial effects that are regrettable.

FAQs

How can I use "a costlier setback" in a sentence?

You can use "a costlier setback" to describe situations where the consequences are financially more significant than anticipated. For example: "The project delay proved to be "a costlier setback" than initially projected".

What are some alternatives to "a costlier setback"?

Alternatives include "a more expensive obstacle", "a pricier impediment", or "a financially burdensome hurdle", depending on the specific context you're describing.

Is it always appropriate to use "a costlier setback" when referring to negative outcomes?

No, it's only appropriate when the primary negative outcome involves a higher financial burden or expense. If the issue is primarily about delays, reputational damage, or other non-monetary problems, use a different description.

What's the difference between "a setback" and "a costlier setback"?

"A setback" simply indicates a problem or obstacle. "A costlier setback" specifies that the problem has resulted in higher financial costs or losses than previously expected.