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
Nakata’s footballing journey was at an end but there have never been any regrets, doubts, or desire to turn back the clock.
—
Tom Burrows, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025
The commander and chief will probably order the military to turn back the masses.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Police later determined Skelton's phone was in Ohio at 4:30 a.m. before it was turned off and then turned back on at 6 a.m. in Morenci.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2025
Some of the team broke under the weight of it all and turned back.
—Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Tom Burrows, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025
The commander and chief will probably order the military to turn back the masses.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Police later determined Skelton's phone was in Ohio at 4:30 a.m. before it was turned off and then turned back on at 6 a.m. in Morenci.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2025
Some of the team broke under the weight of it all and turned back.
—Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 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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To that end, her drama resists sensationalizing the Barnetts’ claims, and then rejects them all together.—
Angie Han,
The Hollywood Reporter,
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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If boundaries are the weak point, anticipate ways to stave off interruptions – for example, hanging a Do Not Disturb sign on your cubicle.—
Caroline Ceniza-Levine,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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Even the outdoor waiting area, with a proper roof that actually staves off the hot sun, has uninterrupted ocean views, as do the sauna, steam room, and cold and hot plunge pools.—
Maya Kachroo-Levine,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turn back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20back. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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