as in to repel
to drive back
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of turn back
About half had a building that needed significant repairs before power could be turned back on, according to a Charlotte Observer analysis of county data.
—
Gavin Off, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2025
Video footage captured the apparent haze found inside inside a Delta Air Lines flight that was forced to turn back and evacuate Monday.
—Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
So management may turn back to the trade market to address remaining areas of weakness — including down the middle of the second line.
—Shayna Goldman, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
In the world wars, transoceanic coalitions turned back Eurasian aggressors, forging patterns of cooperation that brought the United States into the Old World’s strategic affairs.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Gavin Off, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2025
Video footage captured the apparent haze found inside inside a Delta Air Lines flight that was forced to turn back and evacuate Monday.
—Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
So management may turn back to the trade market to address remaining areas of weakness — including down the middle of the second line.
—Shayna Goldman, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
In the world wars, transoceanic coalitions turned back Eurasian aggressors, forging patterns of cooperation that brought the United States into the Old World’s strategic affairs.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn back
Verb
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Kyiv's troops have repelled months of Russian counteroffensives, but recent weeks have seen their salient crumble and Russian forces retake significant ground.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
13 Mar. 2025
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This desperation, rather than repelling me, became a source of connection.—
Priscilla Posada,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Many assume government workers will resist new technology, but this overlooks a simple truth: The entire U.S. workforce already navigates sophisticated technology in their daily lives.—
Alex Saric,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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The two men met face-to-face in their home borough on Sunday to hash out their differences over the spending bill and how Democrats can effectively resist President Trump’s second term agenda.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The legal document details that Lawrence didn’t have the correct paperwork to take her dog, a 9-year-old miniature schnauzer, on the flight and was subsequently turned away.—
Marc Griffin,
VIBE.com,
20 Mar. 2025
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An American retreat to isolationist policies, spotlit by the constant coverage President Trump's actions garner, is already prompting a turn away from the U.S. and our democratic values toward our adversaries, like Russia and China.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Kay’s particular diet was a recurring talking point on the show, with condiments such as ketchup and mayo among the foods that repulsed the TV voice of the Yankees.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
4 Jan. 2025
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These same, once skeptical business leaders rallied around Trump in 2017 but were repulsed by many of his words and actions within eight months, withdrawing support, not returning to give him a second chance until now.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian,
TIME,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Lowry will have his hands full staving off the strongest field to date in 2025.—
Edgar Thompson,
Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2025
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The plan to recapture Savannah failed, but soldiers from Saint-Domingue helped stave off a British counterattack.—
Danielle Amir Jackson,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turn back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20back. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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