experienced significant setbacks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "experienced significant setbacks" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing challenges or difficulties that have occurred in a particular situation, project, or process. Example: "Despite their initial success, the company experienced significant setbacks due to unforeseen market changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In 1995, Globe experienced significant setbacks involving the loss of a large commercial client's business (Eastfield Container) to a competitor and a last-minute cancellation and disagreements with promoters over a costly music concert poster order.

Johns Hopkins University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"This is about projecting an image to a global audience about how strong and dangerous Isis is as an organisation, at a time when they have been experiencing significant setbacks on the ground," says Grayson. "You could argue that what we are seeing is, in fact, a politics of bluff".

The Guardian

Since then, the Williamses have experienced significant injuries and significant setbacks, and Tuesday's defeats will do little to convince the opposition that they are marching toward a new era of all-in-the-family finals.

The New York Times - Sports

Both Strawberry and Gooden have experienced significant off-field setbacks.

The New York Times

In spite of having experienced several significant setbacks – he has just recovered from cancer of the head and neck – Baker was bracingly and un-self-consciously positive.

Independent

The industry experienced a significant setback four years ago when wave firm Pelamis went into administration after failing to secure investment.

BBC

The last time I experienced a significant setback, which was also my biggest flashback ever, was in 2011 and I was able to move through it in less than a week.

HuffPost

All are experiencing significant decline.

The New York Times

Moreover, almost every community experiences significant disturbances.

SEP

China also experiences significant hailstorms.

Wikipedia

The Mets are 10-15 and have sustained some significant setbacks.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "experienced significant setbacks", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what experienced the setbacks and what the specific setbacks were. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "experienced significant setbacks" without specifying the area in which the setbacks occurred. For example, instead of saying "The project experienced significant setbacks", specify the aspect: "The project experienced significant setbacks in funding and scheduling".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "experienced significant setbacks" functions as a verb phrase, where "experienced" is the main verb and "significant setbacks" is the direct object. It describes the action of undergoing or encountering notable hindrances. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase is frequently used to describe negative events that impede progress.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

26%

Science

26%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "experienced significant setbacks" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase for describing situations where notable difficulties have hindered progress. Ludwig indicates that it is considered correct and suitable across diverse contexts such as news, academia, and science. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what experienced the setbacks and the nature of those setbacks. Alternatives include "encountered major difficulties" or "suffered considerable adversity". While versatile, using the phrase requires specific context to avoid being vague, as detailed in usage guidance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encountered major difficulties

Replaces "significant setbacks" with "major difficulties", emphasizing the problematic nature of the hindrances.

suffered considerable adversity

Uses "suffered" and "adversity" to highlight the negative impact of the setbacks.

faced substantial obstacles

Emphasizes the challenges as "obstacles" that needed to be overcome.

underwent serious regressions

Focuses on the regressive nature of the setbacks, indicating a move backward.

had major impediments

Replaces setbacks with "impediments", highlighting what has caused the problems.

endured considerable trials

Uses "endured" and "trials" to convey a sense of hardship and perseverance.

met with critical failures

Emphasizes the aspect of failure.

sustained heavy blows

Uses a metaphorical expression, indicating strong negative impacts.

confronted notable downward trends

Highlights the negative direction and trends.

ran into serious snags

Uses the informal term "snags" to describe unexpected problems.

FAQs

What does it mean to experience significant setbacks?

To experience significant setbacks means to encounter notable obstacles or difficulties that hinder progress or success. These setbacks are substantial enough to cause considerable delay or regression.

What can I say instead of "experienced significant setbacks"?

You can use alternatives like "encountered major difficulties", "suffered considerable adversity", or "faced substantial obstacles" depending on the context.

Is "experienced significant setbacks" formal or informal?

The phrase "experienced significant setbacks" is suitable for neutral to formal contexts. It can be used in business reports, news articles, or academic papers. The level of formality depends on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the document.

How to use "experienced significant setbacks" in a sentence?

You can use "experienced significant setbacks" to describe a period of difficulty in a project, business, or personal endeavor. For instance: "Despite their initial progress, the company "experienced significant setbacks" due to unforeseen market changes".