as in to repel
to drive back
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of turn back
Denver will now likely turn back to Strnad for his seventh start of the season at inside linebacker, after Greenlaw racked up six tackles in 21 snaps in his return from a quad injury.
—
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
The plane hasn’t turned back to Boise.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2025
Week 8 highlights include Acalanes beating Campolindo in a matchup between unbeaten teams, Los Gatos getting a signature win at Wilcox, California turning back San Ramon Valley and more.
—Darren Sabedra, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
Aravaipa Canyon stretches 12 miles, but most day hikers tackle a few and turn back.
—Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
The plane hasn’t turned back to Boise.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2025
Week 8 highlights include Acalanes beating Campolindo in a matchup between unbeaten teams, Los Gatos getting a signature win at Wilcox, California turning back San Ramon Valley and more.
—Darren Sabedra, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
Aravaipa Canyon stretches 12 miles, but most day hikers tackle a few and turn back.
—Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn back
Verb
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Popping into a camp full of allies newly wary of the 428-year-old vampire in their midst, Regis begins by clearing up the misconception that he can be repelled by garlic, then drops a line about Jaskier’s blood smelling good.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
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Scientists have also proposed that stabilimenta shield spiders from harsh ultraviolet rays, convey water for the arachnids to drink, or can either visually attract or repel prey.—
Andrea Tamayo,
Scientific American,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Epstein has resisted the obvious move to monetize it.—
Patrick Iversen,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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The family—an ambivalent institution bar none—shapes us, and yet our individuality resists that shaping.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Harper and Martinez said that their organizations never turn away pantry donations.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Oct. 2025
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But when Sarah goes to the hospital to drop off a card for Dinah, she’s turned away by weirdly hostile staffers.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Of course, one major qualifier for this is the fact there are plenty of reasons for even moderate Democrats to be repulsed at the idea of electing Cuomo.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
23 Oct. 2025
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His family, dependent on his income and repulsed at what has become of their son, must then determine what is to be done with poor Gregor.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Some analysts have questioned whether implementing more AI will be enough to stave off the threat posed by AI to Salesforce’s core product lineup.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
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The win gives Milei a fresh opportunity to try to enact economic reforms and stave off concerns of a financial crisis, analysts said, boosting investor confidence.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On this play, Tegra Tshabola got beat off the ball, forcing Donaldson to take a different hole before running into a defender who center Carson Hinzman was on until the hole shifted.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP What To Know Obama beat off stiff competition from the likes of David Attenborough and Tom Hanks to win the Outstanding Narrator prize for his narration of the five-part Netflix series Our Oceans, which examines marine life across the world's oceans.—
Daniel Orton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turn back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20back. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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