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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of about-face
Catherine Baab, Quartz, 6 May 2025
The same office that helped craft the agreement to treat indigenous students equally made a stunning about-face and decided in March that helping Native American students would discriminate against white students.
—Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 2 May 2025
Acuña’s offensive about-face, in particular, could make the daily lineup decisions intriguing for Carlos Mendoza at the keystone.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Completely abandoning China would be a huge about-face for Starbucks, which entered the mainland market in 1999 with huge ambitions.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Noun
OpenAI’s about-face OpenAI is keeping its nonprofit heart — scrapping a controversial plan to convert control of its AI business to a for-profit structure.
—Catherine Baab, Quartz, 6 May 2025
The same office that helped craft the agreement to treat indigenous students equally made a stunning about-face and decided in March that helping Native American students would discriminate against white students.
—Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 2 May 2025
Acuña’s offensive about-face, in particular, could make the daily lineup decisions intriguing for Carlos Mendoza at the keystone.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Completely abandoning China would be a huge about-face for Starbucks, which entered the mainland market in 1999 with huge ambitions.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Recent Examples of Synonyms for about-face
Noun
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The new leadership brought about a radical shift in foreign policy towards a more pro-Islamic, anti-Western approach—and a reversal of its stance towards Israel.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
21 May 2025
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The speed of that reversal underscores just how fast attitudes are changing.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Verb
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The introduction to the Paul Maurice playoff Panthers was a wild ride as the team reached Game 7 after trailing three games to one in the series and reverting back to Sergei Bobrovsky as their starting goalie mid-series.—
Steve Svekis,
Sun Sentinel,
18 May 2025
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Without new legislation, the top rate is set to expire and would revert back to 39.6%.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Whitney knows the best way to get the heat off her absurd situation with Mikayla is to pivot the drama.—
Olivia Crandall,
Vulture,
17 May 2025
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One founder wanted to pivot toward business-to-business (B2B) licensing; the other remained focused on product development.—
Stephan Lendi,
Forbes.com,
16 May 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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Additional Development in Superior National Forest The bill also rescinds Public Land Order 7917, which withdrew from mineral leasing 225,000 acres of the Superior National Forest in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
22 May 2025
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The officers quickly rescinded, only to come back with another order saying they would be removed to South Sudan.—
Rachel Uranga,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Jay Hook had a degree in engineering and was the rare pitcher who could explain how a curveball curves.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
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Her one-shoulder design was perfectly tailored to curve to her body for sleek yet stylish sophistication.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
5 May 2025
Verb
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But in April, the state’s Court of Appeals, which has a Republican majority, issued a three-sentence decision overturning the lower court’s ruling without hearing oral arguments.—
Doug Bock Clark,
ProPublica,
16 May 2025
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Those fighting Trump's order say 150 years of judicial precedent will be overturned should the birthright order be allowed to go into effect.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
Verb
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The series finally bowed in 2019 without any of the principal cast leaving the show.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
12 May 2025
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After the match, Gunther bowed in respect to McAfee and Cole, then went about his business.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/about-face. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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