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
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Recent Examples of about-face
Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
The about-face came days after Volodymyr Zelensky’s call with Trump on Friday, in which the Ukrainian leader said the two men spoke of joint weapons production, and air defense.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 July 2025
The purchase required move is an about-face from seven years ago when the company began allowing non-paying guests to use its facilities.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Audiences simply weren’t interested in the about-face.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Verb
Discovery’s about-face during the company’s annual programming upfront presentation to advertisers at Madison Square Garden in New York.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
The about-face came days after Volodymyr Zelensky’s call with Trump on Friday, in which the Ukrainian leader said the two men spoke of joint weapons production, and air defense.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 July 2025
The purchase required move is an about-face from seven years ago when the company began allowing non-paying guests to use its facilities.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Audiences simply weren’t interested in the about-face.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Recent Examples of Synonyms for about-face
Noun
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Under this thinking, the U.S. has gotten used to outperforming global markets for years, so a months-long reversal is not necessarily catastrophic.—
Rafael Nam,
NPR,
7 July 2025
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The reversal comes after a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding transgender issues, prompting the appeals court to request new briefs from both sides.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
3 July 2025
Verb
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This summer, in particular, Swift seems to have reverted back to classic, feminine silhouettes and approachable styling after dabbling with a bit of logo-mania during the 2024-2025 football season.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
29 June 2025
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Orvis said South Carolina stood to add a lot of solar to its electrical grid with tax incentives but would have to revert back to gas once those credits go away.—
Soph Warnes,
CNN Money,
27 June 2025
Verb
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When the job of a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman was disrupted because of the rise of online search, those workers pivoted to selling other products, Colella said.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 July 2025
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Restaurants pivoted to increase outdoor spaces — even in the winter, setting up heated igloo spaces.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
3 July 2025
Noun
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Britain is not the only country pressed into making a volte-face.—
London Business School,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
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The realities of Putin’s momentum, coupled with Washington’s volte-face, have led to a clear mood shift in Kyiv.—
Daryna Mayer,
NBC News,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The grant was frozen then unfrozen, after the Office of Management and Budget issued then rescinded a memo freezing grants having to do with nongovernmental organizations, programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, and other issues.—
Aaron Bolton,
NPR,
7 July 2025
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Soon after Trump took office, senior administration officials rescinded the policy, allowing agents to detain people, including family members, for civil immigration violations at courthouses.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 July 2025
Verb
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Instead of straight paths, employ a curving pathway to reveal one part of the garden at a time.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 July 2025
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Bad Idea occupies more than 5,000 square feet of space, with 25-foot curving ceilings and tall windows that welcome in the fading light as the sun sets.—
Mackensy Lunsford,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Verb
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But the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that decision last year.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 July 2025
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The bill, which Gov. Mike Kehoe is expected to sign and would begin Aug. 28, would overturn sick leave provisions included in a ballot measure that Missouri voters approved last year.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
Verb
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That book bow at No. 2 on the New York Times’ bestseller list.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
10 July 2025
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Liverpool’s captain walked slowly, head slightly bowed, his hands clasping a wreath of red flowers in the shape of a football shirt.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/about-face. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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