suffered a significant setback

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suffered a significant setback" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something has experienced a major difficulty or obstacle that hinders progress. Example: "The project suffered a significant setback due to unforeseen technical issues, delaying the launch date."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Earlier this year, for example, he suffered a significant setback representing the telephone company SBC Communications.

The New York Times

PAGE 29 A POLITICAL BLOW -- The Republicans' long-term plan for a permanent majority may have suffered a significant setback.

The New York Times

Plans to build a particle smasher in Japan to succeed the Large Hadron Collider have suffered a significant setback.

Nature

But they suffered a significant setback on the issue on Wednesday when the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the legislation was unlikely to result in lower prices.

The Washington Post

But Renovis suffered a significant setback last year when its lead drug candidate, a stroke treatment, failed a Phase III trial.

The New York Times

In parliamentary elections in Sept., 2001, Labor suffered a significant setback, with nonsocialist opposition parties winning a bare majority of the seats.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Institutional and policy frameworks for more sustainable use of ecosystem services are important, if "frontline" obstacles arise at the implementation stage, the credibility of the goals suffers a significant setback.

Understanding and Solving Environmental Problems in the 21st Century Toward a new, integrated hard problem science

TAIPEI, Taiwan — No matter who wins Taiwan's fiercely contested presidential election on March 22, the fervent independence movement that has so agitated relations with mainland China in recent years seems destined to suffer a significant setback.

The New York Times

The Indian National Congress, which leads the governing coalition in New Delhi, suffered a significant electoral setback in a large southern state, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday at the hands of a breakaway political faction.

The New York Times

PARIS — President Nicolas Sarkozy of France suffered a significant political setback on Thursday when a Paris court acquitted a rival and former prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, on charges that he was part of a 2004 conspiracy to tarnish Mr. Sarkozy's reputation.

The New York Times

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi suffered a significant political setback Sunday in a widely watched state assembly election, losing a bitterly fought campaign to an alliance of rival parties.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "suffered a significant setback", ensure that the context clearly indicates what experienced the setback and what the consequences were. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "suffered a significant setback" without clearly indicating the direct cause of the setback. Vague language can weaken the statement. Instead of saying "The project suffered a significant setback", specify "The project suffered a significant setback due to budget cuts."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suffered a significant setback" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a clause. It indicates that the subject of the sentence has experienced a considerable negative event or obstacle that has impeded progress or caused harm. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

9%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "suffered a significant setback" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a major impediment or reversal. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and widely applicable across diverse writing scenarios. Predominantly featured in "News & Media", with secondary usage in "Science" and "Wiki", it maintains a neutral to professional register. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by explicitly stating the cause of the setback. Alternatives such as "experienced a major setback" or "faced a substantial impediment" can be used to add variety to your writing while retaining a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experienced a major setback

Replaces "suffered" with "experienced" and "significant" with "major", slightly changing the emphasis.

encountered a considerable obstacle

Substitutes the whole expression to highlight an obstacle that hindered progress.

endured a serious reversal

Replaces "setback" with "reversal", implying a change to an opposite direction after progress.

faced a substantial impediment

Uses more formal vocabulary to indicate a significant hindrance.

met with a major difficulty

Highlights the experience of facing a significant challenge.

sustained a notable regression

Formal and emphasizes a return to a former or less developed state.

absorbed a heavy blow

Uses a metaphorical expression to describe the impact of the setback.

was dealt a severe blow

Similar to the previous, emphasizing an external force causing the setback.

underwent a critical failure

Emphasizes a breakdown or inability to continue functioning as intended.

witnessed a marked deterioration

Highlights a progressive worsening of a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "suffered a significant setback" in a sentence?

You can use "suffered a significant setback" to describe when an entity or project has experienced a major difficulty hindering its progress. For example, "The company "suffered a significant setback" when its main factory burned down."

What are some alternatives to saying "suffered a significant setback"?

Some alternatives include "experienced a major setback", "faced a substantial impediment", or "encountered a considerable obstacle", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it more appropriate to say "suffered a major setback" or "suffered a significant setback"?

Both "suffered a major setback" and "suffered a significant setback" are acceptable. The choice depends on stylistic preference, as they convey essentially the same meaning, with 'major' implying substantial importance and 'significant' indicating clear noteworthiness.

What distinguishes "suffered a significant setback" from "encountered a minor inconvenience"?

"Suffered a significant setback" describes a serious hindrance to progress, while "encountered a minor inconvenience" refers to a small, easily resolved problem. The former indicates a potentially long-lasting impact, while the latter suggests only a brief disruption.