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
But with Wilson healthy again, Pittsburgh turned back to the veteran and Fields was sent to the bench.
—
CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Yashica's turned back time to get inspiration for its latest camera, the Tank.
—New Atlas, 15 Mar. 2026
And oil wells and refineries can’t be turned back on overnight.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
But savvy marketing campaigns and partnerships with major employers have tricked consumers into turning back to payday loans.
—Christopher Greenwood, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Yashica's turned back time to get inspiration for its latest camera, the Tank.
—New Atlas, 15 Mar. 2026
And oil wells and refineries can’t be turned back on overnight.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
But savvy marketing campaigns and partnerships with major employers have tricked consumers into turning back to payday loans.
—Christopher Greenwood, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn back
Verb
-
The attack took place less than 24 hours after the Nigerian military repelled attacks by militants on the outskirts of Maiduguri, in what some residents say could have been planned as a distraction.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
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Monday’s attack took place less than 24 hours after the Nigerian military repelled attacks by militants outside Maiduguri.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The clash comes as tensions escalate between Anthropic and the Defense Department, which has resisted placing restrictions on AI use and recently barred contractors from working with the company, prompting a lawsuit from Anthropic on First Amendment grounds.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
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Who could resist a comedy featuring tiny, creepily cute monsters?—
Fleurine Tideman,
Glamour,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Opponents say that provision could potentially scare workers into turning away valid applicants while also discouraging people from working or volunteering at polling locations.—
Mary Clare Jalonick,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
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Precinct-only system turned away hundreds of voters March 3.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After a disastrous trip to Mexico where Irina appeared repulsed by pretty much everything Zack did, the couple split and Zack crawled back to Bliss.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
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Charlie, though, is trying to keep them out of a country that thoroughly repulses him.—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Although there are treatments that can stave off progression, there is no cure for MS.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
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McCarthy stood on his head for much of the final 25 minutes, staving off 17 shots through the third period and first overtime.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 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 21 Mar. 2026.
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