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
The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, went from a high of $112 overnight to below $107 in the morning before turning back higher.
—
Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
One of the boys had turned back to the crowd, face skin twisted around wild eyes, red cheeks about to rip apart from the rictus.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 18 May 2026
The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, went from a high of $112 overnight to as low as $107 during the morning before turning back higher.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
Once the response is ready to be displayed, the numeric tokens are turned back into words.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
One of the boys had turned back to the crowd, face skin twisted around wild eyes, red cheeks about to rip apart from the rictus.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 18 May 2026
The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, went from a high of $112 overnight to as low as $107 during the morning before turning back higher.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
Once the response is ready to be displayed, the numeric tokens are turned back into words.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn back
Verb
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At the store, it can be found in powders, aerosol solutions, sprays and treated clothing, which is especially effective in repelling and killing insects and ticks.—
Gavin Escott,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
Treat clothing and other gear with products that contain permethrin to repel ticks.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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But the California high school athletics governing body has resisted, sparking outrage from anti-trans groups.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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These allow companies to resist speculative takeover and embed mission and values for the benefit of employees, customers, and/or the broader community.—
Alex Amouyel,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
Verb
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While the Royals were turned away a second time, the Red Sox capitalized in the top of the sixth.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
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Abadani hopes Cambridge Housing Authority can turn away from the old heating and cooling system altogether.—
Kristina Rex,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Firstman’s debut directorial effort, Club Kid, shrewdly acknowledges those garish personality tics, which have both endeared and repulsed audiences.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
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Anyone who has worked in or observed the media industry for the last couple of decades will recognize and be repulsed by nepo-baby Jay, who is undeniably villainous.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Restoring whitebark pine forests will also help keep snow on the landscape longer and stave off drought and wildfires.—
Ellis Juhlin,
NPR,
18 May 2026
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Cat Petteys hit two home runs and Jessica Walter pitched a one-hitter as the UConn softball team staved off elimination with a 5-1 victory over McNeese in the NCAA Tournament Regional at College Station, Texas.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Verb
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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
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He regularly gets beat off the bounce by quicker players.—
Sam Vecenie,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turn back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20back. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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