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
Maybe, maybe, maybe— Hans turned back to his board, red splotches rising on his cheeks.
—
Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
Tatis lined the pitch at 114 mph over the head of center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, who helped out by taking a step in and to his right before turning back to give chase.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
After taking off from Fort Lauderdale, the helicopter then flew northwest before turn back to the east.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
The match turned back in the Bulls favor in the 65th minute when a hard foul in the box on Jeus Rodriguez drew a yellow card for Angel Calix.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
Tatis lined the pitch at 114 mph over the head of center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, who helped out by taking a step in and to his right before turning back to give chase.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
After taking off from Fort Lauderdale, the helicopter then flew northwest before turn back to the east.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
The match turned back in the Bulls favor in the 65th minute when a hard foul in the box on Jeus Rodriguez drew a yellow card for Angel Calix.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn back
Verb
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Groypers are repelled by the obsequiousness of pro-Trump influencers who are always willing to contort themselves to support the President’s latest actions.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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But Calgary repelled another Ducks power play and wrapped it up with Frost's empty-netter.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Supporters describe him as a fighter but Harris resists the label of politician.—
Brian Unger,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Lori’s speech articulates the fundamental twinship of artists and critics—a reality that has always resisted attempts to drive a wedge between the two.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Instead, Neuer plunged down, jutted out a wrist of steel, and Mbappe turned away, eyes wide in disbelief.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, the three partner schools had to turn away students and establish wait lists.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the mid-19th century, Kasanje was able to repulse a Portuguese military expedition.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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The Huskies took control from the start, gave the Illini a brief lead in the first half and took several body blows in the final minutes to stave off a collapse.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
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Drugs that manage or stave off illnesses like diabetes and blood clots will be taken less if at all.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 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 10 Apr. 2026.
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