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
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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The windshield repels the huddled form and the thump on the pavement sounds like a rebuke.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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It’s made from solid red wood cedar that’s water-resistant, won’t decay, and repels insects.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
6 Nov. 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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But recent election results suggest trouble for the Republicans, with voters who fueled their gains in 2024 turning away from the party.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Their counterparts who had been turned away from Mercer County, too, formed communities elsewhere in Ohio.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While there are dismemberments and other bits of gruesome violence to be found in the film, Badlands is largely aimed at endearing its audience rather than repulsing them.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
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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
Verb
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However, something is being done to help stave off further damage.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
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During Game 3 of the American League Division Series, Judge hit a game-tying, three-run rocket to stave off his team’s elimination by the Blue Jays.—
Steve Rushin,
The Atlantic,
2 Nov. 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 9 Nov. 2025.
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