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
Lane picked up three on first down, but the Otay Ranch defense stiffened, turning back the next two runs for no gain.
—
Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Throughout the five-week trial, Daedone, often wrapped in a beige shawl, would turn back to look at her partner, Emmett Farley, a writer and meditation guide, who sat in the gallery with a strand of Buddhist mala beads in his hand.
—Thessaly La Force, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
That series, which is being repped internationally by Beta Film, tells the story of the real-life Hungarian army commander Janos Hunyadi, who turned back the tide of the Ottoman Empire’s seemingly unstoppable advance into Europe at the Battle of Belgrade in 1456.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
The rover's stop at Kerrlaguna follows an earlier attempt to climb a rocky slope toward a site called Midtoya, where Perseverance struggled to make progress over loose, uneven terrain and ultimately turned back, the agency said.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Throughout the five-week trial, Daedone, often wrapped in a beige shawl, would turn back to look at her partner, Emmett Farley, a writer and meditation guide, who sat in the gallery with a strand of Buddhist mala beads in his hand.
—Thessaly La Force, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
That series, which is being repped internationally by Beta Film, tells the story of the real-life Hungarian army commander Janos Hunyadi, who turned back the tide of the Ottoman Empire’s seemingly unstoppable advance into Europe at the Battle of Belgrade in 1456.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
The rover's stop at Kerrlaguna follows an earlier attempt to climb a rocky slope toward a site called Midtoya, where Perseverance struggled to make progress over loose, uneven terrain and ultimately turned back, the agency said.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn back
Verb
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Your attitude can repel your crush!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Peppermint, spearmint, and other scented plants in the mint family will repel not only squirrels but other rodents as well.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Made with soft, four-way stretch fabric that resists wrinkles and pilling, they’re built to handle long flights and repeat wears.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
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No one can resist a second helping of these comforting casseroles that were made for cool autumns.—
Phoebe Evans,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Zaldivar said in an age where more people are turning away from their faith, the declaration of the young saints is inspiring to many Catholics looking towards the future of the church.—
Lauren Costantino
September 6,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
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This is the perspective of someone who has turned away from a chaotic and increasingly cruel world.—
Michael Jerome Plunkett
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Like Einstein, Brassard feels repulsed by the way the particles in the Bell experiment seem to have firsthand awareness of each other despite being separated by, in principle, light-years of space.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Aug. 2025
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This is something that finally repulses Ivor, and that Orla also grapples with.—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
27 July 2025
Verb
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Osaka saved one, bouncing on her feet to stave off the next.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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In that matchup, recently crowned UFC welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena looks to stave off the charge of ex-UFC lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In 2024, it was given to Netflix France series Class Act, which beat off competition from huge hits like The Bear, Beef and Succession.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turn back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20back. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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