square one

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of square one His choice to return policy discussions back to square one shows a failure to serve as an effective leader. Nick Gauthier, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2025 The judges may find that the mistrial should have been granted — and bring the case all the way back to square one. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025 Leadership turnover, regulatory shifts and business pivots often send companies back to square one. Sudhir Menon, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 Weight loss medications can support sustainable weight loss Losing weight is a good goal, but most people find themselves back to square one pretty fast. Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for square one
Recent Examples of Synonyms for square one
Noun
  • True freedom isn't a future milestone; it's built from day one by designing for mobility, choosing clients who respect boundaries, building self-sufficient systems, mastering asynchronous communication, and pricing for a location-independent lifestyle.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Don’t misrepresent the role A bad employee onboarding process often starts before day one, when candidates are told one thing about a role but encounter something very different on their first day.
    Alyshia Hull, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Sam Woodward More than two decades after the 9/11 attacks, first responders and survivors alike are still fighting for access to studies and treatments as so many continue to die from toxic exposures at ground zero.
    Sam Woodward, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Decision-Making While all functions are being reshaped by AI, decision-making is ground zero.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • After trying all three, stick with the one that worked best for you (or go back to drawing board).
    Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Winter Park is back to the drawing board in charting a path forward for its former library, which sits within shouting distance of Park Avenue.
    Ryan Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2023
Noun
  • Rizzo came back, played relatively well, and played first base for the Yankees in every game of the ALCS and World Series.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Ohtani walked against Juan Mejia before Freeman bounced a double over the head of Farmer at first base.
    Field Level Media, Reuters, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The beginning of the evening was marked by an intimate performance on behalf of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Sep. 2025
  • And targeting, torturing, and murdering political opponents, rivals, and critics have marked the conflict since its beginning.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Square one.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/square%20one. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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