turn back

verb

Definition of turn backnext
as in to repel
to drive back a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire

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 back And with Georgia looming on Halloween, the Gators could just as easily turn back into pumpkins. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Oct. 2026 Tide turns back to franchises Then the tide started turning back toward familiar waters. — Andrew McGowan, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026 The two giggled momentarily before Quiñonez turned back and answered candidly. — Jake McCreven, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026 Tight end Travis Kelce looks like he’s turned back the clock for Kansas City, which is running the ball well. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turn back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn back
  1. repel
  2. resist
  3. turn away
  4. repulse
  5. stave off
  6. beat off
Verb
  • Leading brands, such as Cliganic, NATPAT and BugMD, use essential oils, like citronella and peppermint oil among others, as the active ingredients to repel pesty bloodsuckers.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Ion-generating toothbrushes release charged particles to induce a polarity that helps repel plaque, for example.
    — Mike McRae, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of repel
Verb
  • Anthropic researchers demonstrated this weakness by using Claude to generate seemingly innocent stories that taught other models to resist human oversight.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Judges failing to award fees and government agencies unreasonably resisting paying them make the problem even worse.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • And the Joe’s devotion to its customers won’t wane, Sawitz said, adding that the restaurant will never turn away anybody who shows up at the back door desperate for something to eat, a longtime unwritten rule.
    — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
  • If that fast-casual look doesn’t turn away customers, then looking like your peers becomes acceptable.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of turn away
Verb
  • Her widowed aunt plays chaperone as Susanna attends heady lectures and repulses her many suitors.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Young people just aren’t interested, partly because they’re repulsed by bodily fluids.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • The good news is that the study also found that movement — in the right amounts and at the right times — staves off muscle laziness and might make sitting a little less unhealthy.
    — Gretchen Reynolds, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The campaign stops in Corpus Christi and Lubbock came as Republicans fight to stave off their first statewide loss in Texas in more than 30 years.
    — Caroline Linton, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of stave off
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

Browse Nearby Words

turn away
turn back
turncoat
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turn back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20back. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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