came as a setback

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "came as a setback" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or situation that has caused a delay or difficulty in progress. Example: "The unexpected loss of funding came as a setback to the project's timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The figures came as a setback after last week's economic cheer, when the closely watched Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index (PMI) showed the dominant services sector grew at its fastest pace for 16 years in the third quarter.

Independent

Sunday's developments came as a setback to the union's bargaining team, which felt it had secured an agreement its delegates might accept, even if it did not quell every concern voiced at protests across the city over the last week.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The revelation comes as a setback for campaigners who have finally begun to make progress in tackling homophobia in sport.

Independent

While Arsenal believe it will not put the 24-year-old's move under threat, it still comes as a setback to Arsène Wenger as the manager was hoping the week-long tour would help the player settle in with the squad.

Independent

As the world moves to more equal rights for the transgender community, this judgement comes as a setback in the Indian context.

BBC

If that changes, the ruling will come as a setback to some directors who have invested or were planning to invest millions of dollars in films with him.

BBC

Scrapping South Stream comes as a setback to the governments in Hungary and Serbia, among the strongest backers of the project, alongside the Austrian company OMV and the Italian ENI.

BBC

Lewington's appointment is likely to come as a setback to Stuart Pearce, who has been in caretaker charge of the senior team since Fabio Capello resigned.

BBC

Igor Strelkov, the military rebel leader, has since tweeted suggesting that the rebel attack was successful: "As a result of today's fighting Donetsk airport is fully under our control!" This will come as a setback to the Ukrainian forces, who regarded the control-tower not only as a strategic stronghold, but also as a symbol of their resistance against Russian oppression.

Vice

It came as a major setback just months before the planned Jan . 1spinoff of Abbott's branded prescription drugs into a separate publicly traded company called AbbVie.

The New York Times

Rice's withdrawal came as an unexpected setback for President Obama, who had signaled his intentions of fighting for her nomination.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "came as a setback" to describe unexpected events that negatively impact progress or expectations. For example, "The funding cut came as a setback to the research project."

Common error

Avoid using "came as a setback" for minor inconveniences. This phrase implies a significant disruption to plans or progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "came as a setback" functions as a predicate, describing an event or situation that caused an obstruction or delay. It is commonly used to express that something unexpected has negatively impacted progress. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "came as a setback" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes an event or situation negatively impacting progress. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is most commonly found in news and business contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. When writing, ensure the scope of the setback aligns with the severity implied by the phrase, avoiding its use for minor inconveniences. Alternatives include "proved to be a setback" or "represented a setback", offering nuanced ways to express similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proved to be a setback

Emphasizes the event's outcome as an obstacle.

represented a setback

Focuses on the representation or symbolism of the event as a hindrance.

constituted a setback

Highlights the event's role in forming an obstacle.

was a hindrance

Directly states the event caused obstruction.

presented an obstacle

Highlights the challenge posed by the event.

impeded progress

Emphasizes the event's role in slowing advancement.

posed a challenge

Focuses on the difficulty introduced by the event.

delayed advancement

Highlights the temporal aspect of hindered progress.

stalled momentum

Focuses on the loss of impetus or drive.

was a major blow

Emphasizes the negative impact or shock of the event.

FAQs

How can I use "came as a setback" in a sentence?

Use "came as a setback" to describe an event or situation that unexpectedly hindered progress. For example, "The project's delay "came as a setback" after the initial positive results".

What's a good alternative to "came as a setback"?

Alternatives include phrases like "proved to be a setback", "represented a setback", or "was a major blow", depending on the context and severity of the situation.

Is it correct to say "come as a setback"?

The correct tense depends on the context. Use "came as a setback" for past events. Use "comes as a setback" for present or future scenarios. For example, "This news "comes as a setback" to our plans".

What is the difference between "came as a setback" and "was a disappointment"?

"Came as a setback" implies an obstacle or hindrance to progress, while "was a disappointment" suggests unmet expectations or a feeling of sadness. A setback impacts progress, while disappointment impacts feelings.