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

Relevance

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 Several American applicants were allegedly turned away even when the companies were actively hiring. — Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 2 July 2026 But Notre Dame is not in the business of turning away talent, no matter the timing. — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 1 July 2026 Beyond the solidarity such tragedies inspire and the accompanying political rhetoric, Rodríguez has little room to turn away any government willing to lend a hand during this crisis. — Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 29 June 2026 At one Nutex emergency room, a receptionist turned away an uninsured patient who arrived with the telltale signs of a heart attack but was unable to pay upfront. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 29 June 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
  • Homegrown catnip oil lotion is just as effective as DEET at repelling mosquitoes, according to a new study in Uganda.
    — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 10 July 2026
  • Some have coatings that are meant to repel water or fingerprints.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 July 2026
Definition of repel
Verb
  • The conversation turned back to what has changed in how distribution has evolved internationally, due to streaming.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 6 July 2026
  • There was no immediate explanation for the ships that turned back on Friday and Saturday, though Iran has repeatedly said that vessels should only transit the strait through the route designated and authorized by the Islamic Republic.
    — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026
Definition of turn back
Verb
  • Under owner Arte Moreno, the Angels have resisted rebuilding, preferring to add lower-tier free agents and rush college players to the major leagues in an effort to field a competitive roster.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Are the foundations laid in 1776 and 1789 still strong enough and sound enough to resist the tremors of our times?
    — Susan Page, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • Plenty of people bought it, plenty were repulsed by it.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Spearmint and peppermint plants are particularly effective insect repellents, but many other plants in the mint family can also be used to repulse flies, including pennyroyal and lemon balm.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2026
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • 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
  • Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose gets a lot of notice for its athletics programs, but the Monarchs are proving to be the team to beat off the sports fields, too.
    — Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Definition of beat off
Verb
  • Gold Bond recently released its Refreshing Hand Creams, a collection of four lightly scented, ultra-hydrating hand creams that stave off scaly, flaky hands without leaving behind a greasy residue.
    — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • The better ballclubs pull out of slumps before the Padres finally did so Sunday, pulling off a 5-2 road victory against the Dodgers that staved off a four-game sweep and halted an eight-game skid.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 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 13 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on turn away

Nglish: Translation of turn away for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All