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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Kitchens: In kitchens, runners repel the inevitable greases and liquids that come with cooking.—
BestReviews,
The Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2025
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The 200-day has been an important level, repelling multiple relief rallies over the past year, including last month.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The union’s wherewithal to resist the cap has become almost part and parcel of its identity and there has never been any indication that the players are prepared to give in now.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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As Hill resists sitting down, another officer jumps from behind him, place an arm around his chest, and pulls him to the ground as Hill continues shouting about knee surgery.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Trump has pulled the U.S. out of international climate agreements, limited clean-energy development on public land and set in motion a radical reduction in staff at environmental agencies in a sharp turn away from climate action.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
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Enforcing vaccination requirements, and turning away students who are unvaccinated and don’t have an exemption, could not only slow student learning, but also cost school districts money, the former Fort Worth district employee said.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 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 14 Mar. 2025.
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