despite the setbacks

USAGE SUMMARY

'despite the setbacks' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to state that something happened despite difficulties or obstacles. Example: Despite the setbacks, she persevered and eventually succeeded in her goal.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Despite the setbacks, Mr. Halloran said he was grateful.

The New York Times

Despite the setbacks, City's recent form remains relatively good.

Independent

Despite the setbacks, Mr. Hill was determined to stay upbeat.

The New York Times

Despite the setbacks, there are still diet drugs under development.

The New York Times - Health

Despite the setbacks, Mr. Brewster's job seems secure.

The New York Times

Despite the setbacks, Mrs. Kumartunga has not given up.

The New York Times

But despite the setbacks with growth factors, work is continuing.

The New York Times

Despite the setbacks over the past year, Mr. Betit is determined to keep at it.

The New York Times

The violence is not predestined to worsen, despite the setbacks of the past month.

The Economist

Despite the setbacks, AT&T's business had a strong fourth quarter.

The New York Times - Tech

The European Union continues to prod member states to try distance charging despite the setbacks.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite the setbacks" to highlight resilience and determination in overcoming obstacles. It's particularly effective when you want to emphasize a positive outcome or continued effort in the face of adversity.

Common error

Avoid using "despite the setbacks" when the setbacks completely halted progress. The phrase implies that progress, albeit potentially slower or altered, continued.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the setbacks" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a clause, indicating concession or contrast. It sets up a situation where one might expect a different outcome, but something else occurred. Ludwig confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the setbacks" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to convey resilience and achievement in the face of adversity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives such as "in spite of the obstacles" or "even with the difficulties" exist, "despite the setbacks" maintains a neutral tone. Remember to use it when emphasizing progress that continued despite specific obstacles, rather than implying the obstacles completely halted advancement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the face of adversity

Highlights the presence of adversity as something to be considered, but not a hindrance.

in spite of the obstacles

Focuses on obstacles that exist, but are overcome.

even with the difficulties

Emphasizes the presence of difficulties that do not prevent progress.

despite the adversity

Focuses on the presence of adversity as something to be considered, but not a hindrance.

notwithstanding the challenges

Highlights the challenges as something to be considered, but not a hindrance.

after overcoming the obstacles

Highlights overcoming obstacles that existed.

regardless of the problems

Indicates that the problems do not affect the outcome.

with all the impediments

Emphasizes existing impediments that do not prevent success.

even after the failures

Highlights past failures that did not deter future progress.

considering the hindrances

Highlights existing hindrances that do not prevent success.

FAQs

How can I use "despite the setbacks" in a sentence?

You can use "despite the setbacks" to show that something positive happened or someone persevered even when there were problems. For instance, "Despite the setbacks, the project was ultimately a success."

What are some alternatives to "despite the setbacks"?

Alternatives include phrases like "in spite of the obstacles", "even with the difficulties", or "notwithstanding the challenges", which all convey a similar meaning of overcoming difficulties.

Is it better to use "despite the setbacks" or "because of the setbacks"?

"Despite the setbacks" indicates that something happened in spite of the problems, while "because of the setbacks" implies that the setbacks caused something to happen. The choice depends on the relationship you want to express.

What's the difference between "despite the setbacks" and "despite the challenges"?

While similar, "setbacks" often refers to specific, identifiable events that temporarily impede progress. "Challenges" is a broader term that encompasses ongoing difficulties. Using "despite the challenges" suggests overcoming general difficulties, whereas "despite the setbacks" highlights resilience after specific negative occurrences.