1
as in setbacks
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hesitations
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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Recent Examples of reversals
Prepare for risk, reversals and regulatory shifts.
—
Glenn Gonsalves, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Sudden reversals, judges warn, risk turning litigation into gamesmanship.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
The broader landscape of hormone care has evolved through strong evidence, major reversals, and ongoing debate.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Amid the rollback of DEI—and even years earlier, the reversals of board gender quota laws in California and elsewhere—there was a prevailing, optimistic point of view.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
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
The statement does not indicate what prompted the reversals.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2025
Many people today understand these reversals as the results of miscommunications, evolving evidence, or good-faith scientific error.
—ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2025
Trade experts are emphasizing caution amid a negotiation process that has been marked by rapid-fire announcements and reversals.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 2 July 2025
Glenn Gonsalves, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Sudden reversals, judges warn, risk turning litigation into gamesmanship.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
The broader landscape of hormone care has evolved through strong evidence, major reversals, and ongoing debate.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Amid the rollback of DEI—and even years earlier, the reversals of board gender quota laws in California and elsewhere—there was a prevailing, optimistic point of view.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
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
The statement does not indicate what prompted the reversals.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2025
Many people today understand these reversals as the results of miscommunications, evolving evidence, or good-faith scientific error.
—ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2025
Trade experts are emphasizing caution amid a negotiation process that has been marked by rapid-fire announcements and reversals.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 2 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reversals
Noun
-
This year has taught me that setbacks don’t define us — our comebacks do.—
Natasha Dye,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
From a business standpoint, this can translate to fewer legal and reputational setbacks.—
Vidya Plainfield,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Over the past 20 years, Broadway has seen one of the most remarkable turnarounds on the North Side.—
Patricia Sharkey,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
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The exits represent one of the largest pre-season cast turnarounds for the long-running NBC sketch series and raise questions about casting and creative direction ahead of the fall premiere.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Her plaintive denials on screen are robbed of any credibility by an inescapable sense of overwhelming resentment.—
Daniel Jonah Wolpert,
NPR,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Sometimes, when patients and doctors shame insurers online, denials get overturned.—
Lauren Sausser,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Trump’s disdain for foreign-policy precedent and erratic flip-flops will continue to open opportunities for Xi and Putin to expand their global influence at Washington’s expense.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
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Adding to Target’s woes were its flip-flops on the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) issue.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reversals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reversals. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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