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
Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Schmitt’s apparent about-face illustrated a broader, tumultuous moment for Republicans and allies of Trump both in Missouri and nationally.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2025
But three of them have done an about-face, ending or limiting coverage for hundreds of thousands of immigrants who aren’t in the U.S. legally in California, Illinois and Minnesota.
—Trân Nguyễn, Fortune, 22 July 2025
Last week, the U.S. Justice Department recommended no prison time for Hankison, in an abrupt about-face by federal prosecutors that has angered critics after the department spent years prosecuting the former detective.
—Dylan Lovan, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Verb
All of this represents an about-face for the president, who hung onto ownership of his assets during his first term but stuck them in a trust and promised to launch no new ventures overseas.
—Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Schmitt’s apparent about-face illustrated a broader, tumultuous moment for Republicans and allies of Trump both in Missouri and nationally.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2025
But three of them have done an about-face, ending or limiting coverage for hundreds of thousands of immigrants who aren’t in the U.S. legally in California, Illinois and Minnesota.
—Trân Nguyễn, Fortune, 22 July 2025
Last week, the U.S. Justice Department recommended no prison time for Hankison, in an abrupt about-face by federal prosecutors that has angered critics after the department spent years prosecuting the former detective.
—Dylan Lovan, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Recent Examples of Synonyms for about-face
Noun
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Barring drastic reversals, San Diego will cruise into its fourth postseason in six years, while the Giants will miss the postseason for the eighth time in nine years.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
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The president’s warm remarks were a stark reversal from just four days earlier, when Trump called for Tan’s resignation and accused him of having conflicts of interest.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The majority of the slate, dominated by Paramount Pictures IP, will revert back to PTVS, which will develop series based on Paramount film titles moving forward, along with shows based on IP from the library of Miramax, 49% owned by Paramount.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 Aug. 2025
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Redistricting power would then revert back to the nonpartisan Citizen Redistricting Commission in line with typical redistricting that comes after the decennial census.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The band pivoted away from its usual production partners, and instead linked up with indie powerhouse Catherine Marks, who recently won a Grammy for her production on Boygenius’ 2023 album The Record.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
7 Aug. 2025
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Instead, Ellison pivoted to talking about unifying the tech stack (the backend technology) that powers Paramount+, SkyShowtime and PlutoTV, while acknowledging that there’d be cost-cutting made.—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Aug. 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 agency also rescinded limits on four other types of PFAS set under the Biden administration in 2024. MAP: Where water systems reported PFAS contamination Click on a system in the map below to review its PFAS measurements.—
Austin Fast,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
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Shortly before the July 4th holiday, US Commerce officials notified major ethane producers the export controls had been rescinded.—
Phil Mattingly,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Dozens of storms have traveled north offshore, often curving completely away from the coast without making landfall in the mainland United States or in Canada, but some leave damage in their wakes, in the form of erosion, coastal flooding and even deaths from rough seas.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
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Her blonde locks were styled into tight barrel curls, while her bangs curved outward to the sides of her face.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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To change that, Congress would need to overturn home rule.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
6 Aug. 2025
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Tables were overturned, wine bottles were shattered and decorations were destroyed.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Their heavy heads, the size of cartwheels, bowed down and facing towards the sun, from East to West.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Aug. 2025
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They were then categorized by behavior, including jumps, belly rolls, tail slaps, bow riding and even petting.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/about-face. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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