1
as in reverse
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the company's long-term strategy is sound, and they should be able to weather this latest reversal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in turnaround
a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite
parents need to be consistent in their discipline policy, as reversals will only undermine the whole process
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reversal
Even the accompanying food pyramid reflects the reversal, appearing almost entirely inverted from earlier versions.
—
Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
Some nutrition and diet experts, however, questioned other recommendations, including consuming red meat and full-fat dairy, a reversal of past nutrition guidance.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2026
According to Anna Koplos-Villanueva, the coalition’s executive director, its outreach activities were responsible for half of all reversals of fentanyl overdoses across Santa Cruz County in 2023.
—Albert Chern, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The city’s and county’s outreach efforts have expanded to include testing illicit street narcotics for their ingredients and potency, and making overdose-reversal medications more widely available in areas where opioid use is most common.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reversal
Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
Some nutrition and diet experts, however, questioned other recommendations, including consuming red meat and full-fat dairy, a reversal of past nutrition guidance.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2026
According to Anna Koplos-Villanueva, the coalition’s executive director, its outreach activities were responsible for half of all reversals of fentanyl overdoses across Santa Cruz County in 2023.
—Albert Chern, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The city’s and county’s outreach efforts have expanded to include testing illicit street narcotics for their ingredients and potency, and making overdose-reversal medications more widely available in areas where opioid use is most common.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reversal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reversal
Noun
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The Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage was organized to have wagon trains travel in reverse from west to east along historic trails such as the Oregon Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail, with everyone arriving in Valley Forge on July 4, 1976.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
21 Jan. 2026
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Shahed is a low-cost drone that has already been reverse-engineered by the US.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Head coach Curt Cignetti has left the college football world breathless with a dramatic turnaround of the Hoosiers program, going from one of the losingest teams in the Big 10 to potentially the most dominant single-season of all time.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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In the meantime, the Lake Worth school district will operate as normal and focus on implementing a comprehensive turnaround plan focused on foundational literacy and math, officials said.—
Samuel O'Neal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The world champion didn’t let this setback stop him from starting his 2026 as the fastest man in history.—
Katelyn Hutchison,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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This represents the latest setback in a tumultuous season for Morant, who had missed six games with an injured right calf before returning Sunday for the Grizzlies' 126-109 victory over the Orlando Magic in London.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In recent years, Olathe’s seen more projects move forward that could help address the missing middle housing gap, including a City Council approval on Tuesday to build 71 townhome units, despite the Planning Commission recommending denial, Olathe spokesperson Kennedy said.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
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The president cited the denial of the students’ constitutional rights in federalizing the Arkansas National Guard.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The turnabout is particularly evident in the tech sector, where five-day in-office weeks are now commonplace.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
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Canada’s complicated relationship with China Friday’s deal in Beijing marks a turnabout in Canadian policy.—
Paul Wiseman,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This volte-face was not just about electoral politics.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
17 Jan. 2026
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The Kremlin has denied any such request was made, which tells you something about how Moscow views the optics of this diplomatic volte-face.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
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In an about-face on Monday, a federal judge has decided to hold an evidentiary hearing to determine if Luigi Mangione’s backpack was lawfully seized and searched inside an Altoona, Pennsylvania, McDonald’s during his arrest.—
Julia Bonavita , Maria Paronich,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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The forthcoming announcement would mark an about-face for FEMA officials, who repeatedly resisted calls to test properties for toxic substances after federal contractors finished removing fire debris.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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To counter this hesitation, companies can link payment to observable results.—
Esade Business & Law School,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Kande questioned whether this hesitation stems from geopolitics, tariffs, technology, or a lack of leadership agility.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reversal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reversal. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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