turn away

verb

Definition of turn awaynext
as in to repel
to drive back using tree branches, the campers were able to turn away the charging fox, which was apparently rabid

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of turn away At this, Clarkson immediately teared up and briefly turned away from the audience. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026 Almost half of traders, portfolio managers and strategists in a recent Bloomberg poll support wearing shorts to work, but men in Silicon Valley are turning away from the look of the scruffy tech genius in shorts and flip-flops. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026 Sprague told the jury that Clancy was never turned away from mental health care, but that in fact Clancy refused help. — Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026 This summer, Whatley’s campaign barred journalists from mainstream and left-leaning outlets from events, while Cooper’s campaign turned away staffers from two conservative outlets, but local coverage focused more heavily on Whatley. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turn away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn away
  1. repel
  2. turn back
  3. resist
  4. repulse
  5. beat off
  6. stave off
Verb
  • Some microbiomes attracted the skeeters; others repelled them.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Most claims about cornstarch in gardening, such as repelling ants or boosting water retention, lack scientific evidence.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of repel
Verb
  • Climbers who have not reached the summit by noon should turn back, the sheriff’s office said, giving themselves — and rescuers, if needed — enough daylight to get off the mountain.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • But this is about Folk, the 41-year-old whose right leg could be the Falcons’ biggest point of improvement from last season and a 19-year veteran who has somehow, someway, turned back the clock.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of turn back
Verb
  • Its rugged silicone exterior is IP67-rated to resist water, dust, and drops, while the flexible utility strap easily clips onto backpacks, handlebars, or coolers.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Lee and his Burning co-writer Oh Jung-mi resist what might have been the first instinct of many filmmakers by refusing to make Ye-ji and Sang-woo overly patronizing rich jerks.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • His recent comments didn’t favor the Browns fanbase, and many Cleveland fans seem viscerally repulsed by him.
    — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Most Americans are repulsed by the core ideas of radical leftists.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • Spurs beat off competition from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain to sign Fernandes, while Manchester City were interested in Tonali.
    — Jay Harris, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Happiness beat off competition from second place The Flaws, an absurdist comedy for ZDF that won the official competition at the same fest.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 12 June 2026
Definition of beat off
Verb
  • The two-day event at the American Airlines Center is the first of its kind and has been touted as a way to rally the base ahead of the midterm elections, when Republicans are hoping to stave off losses in the House and Senate.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2026
  • There was a sense that only significant deals could stave off the double threat of the Austrian’s outbursts over transfers destabilising the team midway through the campaign and Palace tumbling into a relegation battle.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of stave off

Browse Nearby Words

turnarounds
turn away
turn back
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turn away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20away. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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