a devastating setback

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a devastating setback" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant and harmful obstacle or failure that hinders progress or success. Example: "The unexpected loss of funding was a devastating setback for the research project, forcing the team to reevaluate their goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

For those prisoners, Ajmi's attack was a devastating setback.

The New Yorker

Becoming homeless was a devastating setback, but Ms. Weinu remains determined to stay on track.

The New York Times

"Failure to pass the measure would be a devastating setback," he said.

The New York Times

In a devastating setback, Miles had experienced a grand mal seizure that left him unable to drive, complicating our already difficult schedule.

The New York Times

They had received a mountain of requests from investors asking for their money back and had suffered a devastating setback in one of their biggest investments.

The New York Times

There's no way around it — this is a devastating setback for Bryant and the Lakers, who just last month agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million extension.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

The detection of another large breakaway piece of insulating foam is a potentially devastating setback for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and a bitter counterpoint to the elation of Monday's seemingly perfect launching of the Discovery, a return to flight that was hailed as an inspiring comeback for the space program.

The New York Times

Obviously, if you've suffered a truly devastating setback at your job, you should begin to search for work elsewhere, where your talents and experience will be better appreciated.

WikiHow

This was a devastating blow.

The New York Times

It was a devastating blow.

Independent

Bono said, "it was a devastating blow.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a devastating setback", ensure that the context clearly defines what was lost or hindered as a result of the setback. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

While "a devastating setback" is impactful, avoid using it too frequently in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "a significant blow" or "a major disappointment" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a devastating setback" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in describing events that negatively impact progress or expectations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a devastating setback" is a common noun phrase used to describe a significantly negative event that hinders progress. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalent use across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While widely accepted, it's important to be mindful of overusing the phrase and to consider synonyms like "a significant blow" or "a major disappointment" for variation. The phrase serves to emphasize the severity and impact of a situation, conveying disappointment or concern.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a crushing blow

Replaces "setback" with "blow", emphasizing the impact as sudden and forceful.

a severe blow

Similar to "crushing blow", but focuses on the intensity and gravity of the negative impact.

a major disappointment

Shifts focus to the feeling of disappointment resulting from the setback.

a significant impediment

Replaces the emotional term with a more factual description of the phrase as an obstacle.

a serious obstacle

Similar to "significant impediment", but uses more common vocabulary.

a calamitous event

Indicates a negative event, highlighting its disastrous nature.

a terrible misfortune

Emphasizes the unlucky and unfortunate aspect of the setback.

a grave reverse

Replaces the term with "reverse", which highlights the step backwards caused by the obstacle.

a huge failure

Replaces the term with "failure", focusing on the lack of success.

a major problem

A more general term that describes the situation as a large issue needing resolution.

FAQs

How to use "a devastating setback" in a sentence?

You can use "a devastating setback" to describe a situation where progress is significantly hindered due to an unexpected event. For example, "The company's failure to secure the contract was "a devastating setback" to its expansion plans."

What can I say instead of "a devastating setback"?

You can use alternatives like "a crushing blow", "a significant impediment", or "a major disappointment" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "a devastating setback" or "a severe setback"?

Both ""a devastating setback"" and "a severe setback" are grammatically correct, but "devastating" implies a greater level of damage or impact than "severe."

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

"A setback" generally refers to any obstacle or hindrance. Adding "devastating" intensifies the meaning, indicating that the setback is particularly damaging and has far-reaching negative consequences.