ABOUT-FACE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

about-face 1 of 2

noun

ə-ˈbau̇t-ˈfās

Definition of about-face

as in reversal

a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite the candidate's frequent about-faces on issues disturbs many voters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

about-face

2 of 2

verb

as in to revert

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

as in to pivot

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

straighten

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 about-face

Noun

The about-face felt personal to former parks workers who spent their careers preserving artifacts that have now been deemed too radical for display. — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 26 June 2026 And last fall, the Solovievs did an about-face and declared that the pharmacy, which had been open since the 1920s, would no longer fill prescriptions — leaving the nearest drugstore a ferry ride away. — Reeves Wiedeman, Curbed, 22 June 2026 College officials defended their about-face in an update posted to the Columbia admissions website. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026 The price action is a brutal about-face for investors who couldn't get enough of hardware stocks tied to the artificial intelligence buildout. — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for about-face

Recent Examples of Synonyms for about-face

Noun

The United States is in the grips of one of the most drastic reversals of green energy infrastructure currently underway on our increasingly warm world.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 9 July 2026
Hollywood largely stayed away in 2025, so early signs point to a reversal this year.

— Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026

Definition of reversal

Verb

In February, the board pivoted and entered negotiations with Sunrise Senior Living, whose proposal is more profitable, has a faster timeline and provides more space for community amenities, according to the district.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Georgia, after establishing herself as a non-hands-washer last year (and doubling down over and over again), decided to sharply pivot to become a maven of cleanliness.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 July 2026

Definition of pivot

Noun

Another meeting was scheduled for next week with the club’s media team and, though Pereira has experience of working with Marinakis previously at Olympiacos in Greece, the whole volte-face appears to have completely caught him out.

— Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 1 July 2026
This volte-face was not just about electoral politics.

— Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2026

Definition of volte-face

Verb

Multiple media outlets, citing unnamed people familiar with the conversation, said Trump spoke personally with FIFA president Gianni Infantino last week and asked him to rescind the red card.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
According to SpoTrac, two of the 189 red cards have been handed out in the history of the World Cup have ever been rescinded.

— Mac Engel July 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 July 2026

Definition of rescind

Verb

Long before curved, sculptural homes became a fixture of luxury real estate, French architect Claude Misbach was experimenting with the idea on the Mediterranean coast.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 9 July 2026
The bigger the mass and the closer to that mass the light passes, the more its path is curved.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of curve

Verb

However, this theory has also been challenged by physicists who argue that the force of methane bubbles is unlikely to be powerful enough to overturn a ship.

— Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026
The referee pointed straight to the spot and there was no chance the video assistant referee (VAR) was going to overturn it.

— Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Definition of overturn

Browse Nearby Words

about

about-face

about-faced

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/about-face. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of about-face

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on about-face

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

obdurate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes