Lots of deities (female) face a setback (5)

I believe the answer is:

fates

'lots of deities' is the definition.

'female face a setback' is the wordplay.
'face' suggests taking the first letters.
'setback' becomes 'tes' (I've seen this in other clues).
The initial letter of 'female' is 'f'.
'f'+'a'+'tes'='FATES'

(Other definitions for fates that I've seen before include "Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos" , "Goddesses governing human lives" , "Straighten out" , "classical goddesses" , "Three Greek goddesses who presided over life and death" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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