encountered a setback

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encountered a setback" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where progress has been hindered or delayed due to an unexpected issue or challenge. Example: "Despite our initial success, we encountered a setback when the funding fell through."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

She did not address her gun control advocacy, which encountered a setback last month when the Senate blocked background check legislation.

The New York Times

One Danish case allegedly involved some 50,000 songs; Denmark has seen a whopping 50% decline in sales of CDs over the past four years.However, this latest legal attack has already encountered a setback.

The Economist

OTTAWA, Sept. 17 — Canada's Conservative government captured a seat in a generally separatist region of Quebec during one of three special elections on Monday, while the opposition Liberals encountered a setback in Montreal.

The New York Times

ROBERT, La. — The latest effort to contain the oil spill that has poured millions of gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico encountered a setback 5,000 feet underwater, officials said Saturday, meaning oil will continue gushing into the ocean for at least several more days, and possibly months.

The New York Times

A push by New York City's public hospital system to save tens of millions of dollars by replacing its nearly 850-member police force with private security guards encountered a setback recently when the city discovered that the winning bidder failed to tell the Health and Hospitals Corporation about a series of sexual harassment complaints against it.

The New York Times

While the removal of the ventilator, at 12 25 p.m., was viewed as a significant step in Mr. Corzine's recovery, he is still listed in critical but stable condition, and doctors cautioned that the breathing tube could again be used if the governor encountered a setback.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

When they encounter a setback, or when their health begins to decline, they find themselves without support.

The New Yorker

A-list diaspora actors re-enact the anti-English "wankers" scene from Trainspotting, but an attempt to "repatriate" Glasgow-born Carol Ann Duffy as another star of the ceremony encounters a setback as the Queen refuses to relinquish her, triggering a constitutional crisis.

The Guardian - Books

Blair encounters a setback during her interview at Yale by revealing the recent stress in her life, and then kissing her interviewer on the cheek upon dismissal.

Wikipedia

MINEOLA: PESTICIDE NOTIFICATION RULING -- A state law requiring pesticide companies to notify neighbors at least 48 hours before pesticides can be used at a customer's residence has encountered a legal setback.

The New York Times

In addition to its ride-hailing service, it offers takeout food delivery (Uber Eats), and its engineers are developing vertical-liftoff aircraft (Uber Elevate) as well as driverless cars — a project that is consuming vast resources, and that encountered a major setback in March, when a pedestrian in Arizona was killed by one of Uber's autonomous vehicles.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "encountered a setback" to describe a specific instance where progress towards a goal was unexpectedly delayed or hindered. It is most effective when the setback is a discrete event rather than a continuous state.

Common error

Avoid using "encountered a setback" when describing ongoing, persistent challenges. This phrase is best suited for specific, identifiable events that interrupt progress, not for inherent difficulties within a project or situation. Try using "faced ongoing challenges" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encountered a setback" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a sentence. It describes the action of experiencing a delay or problem that hinders progress. Ludwig AI validates that is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encountered a setback" is a grammatically sound and moderately common expression used to describe an unexpected delay or hindrance to progress. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate across various registers, particularly in news and media, though less frequent in formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a specific event rather than an ongoing difficulty. Alternatives such as "faced a challenge" or "hit a roadblock" can provide nuanced variations depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hit a stumbling block

Describes encountering an obstacle that impedes progress, similar in meaning.

ran into difficulty

Indicates the occurrence of problems or complications during a process.

suffered a reverse

Similar to "experienced a reversal", it emphasizes a change in direction or fortune.

had a hitch

Suggests a temporary problem or delay, but less formal and potentially minor.

experienced a reversal

Implies a change to an opposite direction, differing from a temporary delay.

received a blow

Focuses on the negative impact of an event or situation, often implying damage or harm.

met with adversity

Focuses on facing difficult circumstances, potentially more severe than a simple setback.

stumbled upon an obstacle

Describes accidentally finding something that prevents from doing something.

faced a challenge

Highlights the presence of a difficult task or situation, but doesn't necessarily imply failure.

underwent a complication

Implies a complex issue that arose, diverging from a simple delay.

FAQs

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

You can use "encountered a setback" to describe a situation where there was a temporary stop in progress, for example: "The project "encountered a setback" when the funding was delayed."

What's a good alternative to "encountered a setback"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "faced a challenge", "hit a roadblock", or "experienced a reversal" instead of "encountered a setback".

Is it better to say "faced a setback" or "encountered a setback"?

Both "faced a setback" and "encountered a setback" are grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. The choice depends on personal preference and the specific nuance you want to convey. "Encountered" might suggest a more unexpected or accidental occurrence, while "faced" implies a direct confrontation with the issue.

What does it mean to "suffer a reverse"?

The expression "suffered a reverse" is a good alternative for "encountered a setback". It implies a change to an opposite direction, differing from a temporary delay.