about-face
noun
1
: a 180° turn to the right from the position of attention
2
: a reversal of direction
3
: a reversal of attitude, behavior, or point of view
about-face
intransitive verb
Synonyms
Examples of about-face in a Sentence
the candidate's frequent about-faces on issues disturbs many voters
Recent Examples on the Web
The Trump administration has halted the firings of hundreds of federal employees who were tasked with working on the nation’s nuclear weapons programs, in an about-face that has left workers confused and experts cautioning that DOGE’s blind cost cutting will put communities at risk.
—
Tara Copp and Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Here’s what its workers think of Trump’s tariffs The Colombian government had to do a humiliating about-face that month after President Gustavo Petro blocked two American military planes carrying Colombian deportees from entering his country.
—Rafael Romo, CNN, 12 Feb. 2025
Netanyahu’s about-face raises the question: What favors might the Israeli leader hope to extract from Trump in exchange for accepting the deal?
—Rosemary Kelanic, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2025
This represents another about-face for the think tank, which has historically opposed efforts to empower the president at the expense of congressional authority.
—Zachary Albert, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2025
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Tara Copp and Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Here’s what its workers think of Trump’s tariffs The Colombian government had to do a humiliating about-face that month after President Gustavo Petro blocked two American military planes carrying Colombian deportees from entering his country.
—Rafael Romo, CNN, 12 Feb. 2025
Netanyahu’s about-face raises the question: What favors might the Israeli leader hope to extract from Trump in exchange for accepting the deal?
—Rosemary Kelanic, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2025
This represents another about-face for the think tank, which has historically opposed efforts to empower the president at the expense of congressional authority.
—Zachary Albert, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for about-face
Dictionary Entries Near about-face
Cite this Entry
“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/about-face. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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