as in to repel
to drive back
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of turn back
Demographers of religion, however, largely contend that nationwide data don’t support the claim that Gen Z is turning back to faith.
—
Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
As the heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and all three are faced with life-defining choices – and the realization that there can be no turning back.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Israeli authorities said all religious buildings in Jerusalem’s Old City, home to some of the most sacred Christian, Muslim and Jewish sites, have been closed amid Iranian missile threats, and Pizzaballa was turned back for his own safety.
—Peter Weber, TheWeek, 30 Mar. 2026
But the Dolphins have already invested 1,000-plus snaps into the former Arizona standout, so why turn back now?
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
As the heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and all three are faced with life-defining choices – and the realization that there can be no turning back.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Israeli authorities said all religious buildings in Jerusalem’s Old City, home to some of the most sacred Christian, Muslim and Jewish sites, have been closed amid Iranian missile threats, and Pizzaballa was turned back for his own safety.
—Peter Weber, TheWeek, 30 Mar. 2026
But the Dolphins have already invested 1,000-plus snaps into the former Arizona standout, so why turn back now?
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn back
Verb
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In drills, Taiwan has rehearsed repelling a seaborne assault with drones, fast patrol craft, mobile Hsiung Feng anti-ship missiles and Marine Corps teams.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
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The housekeeping team fogs the balés every week to keep most of the biting insects at bay, and gardens teeming with mosquito-repelling lemongrass and zodia plants help keep them at a distance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Against a backdrop of social and geopolitical change, amid profound transformation both in Georgia and across the South Caucasus, their stories reveal how the will to dream, to resist, and to love becomes its own quiet blaze.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
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Serious worm farmers will want to invest in some worm food to ensure their nightcrawlers get the perfect balance of protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals to create a plump, tasty bait that no self-respecting fish can resist.—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Because being with their own thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations can be so difficult, people often turn away from them.—
J. David Creswell,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
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Still, Brooks’s turn away from politics and toward a more therapeutic project has not been wholly unhelpful.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sigmund Freud believed that every crush has a strand of disgust, that people are attracted to what repulses them.—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
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Cilantro, a polarizing herb that’s either adored in Mexican, Southeast Asian, and Indian cuisines, or repulsed by those who detect a nauseating soapy taste.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In order to stave off potentially bruising losses in November, Republicans of all persuasions are working to get on the same messaging page to pitch voters on why their party should stay fully in power over the next few years.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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And this was on a night when Doncic scored 41 points on 15-of-25 shooting (5 for 10 from 3-point range) as the Lakers staved off the Brooklyn Nets, finally pulling away for a 116-99 win on Friday night, their 11th victory in 12 games.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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He regularly gets beat off the bounce by quicker players.—
Sam Vecenie,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
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The dogs had driven the woman into the surf before a tourist came to her rescue, beating off the dingoes.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turn back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20back. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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