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
Bob Frid / Imagn Images VANCOUVER — As Joseph Woll turned back to watch a puck drift slowly from behind his net onto the stick of Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland, Woll quickly had to become a hero.
—
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
As the heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and all three are faced with life-defining choices–and the realization that there can be no turning back.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026
As is the case with many turnarounds, Kleiner hasn’t tried to turn back the clock and create a replica of its former self, but instead has evolved to find its footing in a new landscape.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
If someone needed to fly around the earth backward to turn back time, Teddy would volunteer Jeremy for the task.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
As the heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and all three are faced with life-defining choices–and the realization that there can be no turning back.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026
As is the case with many turnarounds, Kleiner hasn’t tried to turn back the clock and create a replica of its former self, but instead has evolved to find its footing in a new landscape.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
If someone needed to fly around the earth backward to turn back time, Teddy would volunteer Jeremy for the task.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn back
Verb
-
Many things in our lives repel water—examples include cooking oil, a rain jacket or a rubber glove.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
3 Feb. 2026
-
In 2014, Bundy and his father, Cliven, marshaled about 1,000 militiamen and other supporters to repel government agents trying to impound their cattle in Bunkerville, Nevada.—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Those who are traveling with a partner will appreciate the double vanities—or resist the old-fashioned clawfoot tub.—
Diana Oates,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026
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The urge to lie down for a soak, even in winter, is hard to resist.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Around the same time that the Genetic Studies of Genius started to yield questionable results, our collective attention turned away from IQ toward EQ, when Peter Salovey and John Mayer coined the term emotional intelligence in 1990, and Daniel Goleman popularized it with his 1995 book.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Hassan turned away and stood in front of a closed shop.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And Republicans are among those repulsed by the ongoing scandals.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
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That effort quickly repulsed decent Americans.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To his credit, Onana remained at the heart of the battle and was evidently key to Villa staving off Bournemouth’s set-play threat.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Republicans said that would stave off abuse of the Medicaid program and added a $50 billion investment in rural health to offset losses.—
ALI SWENSON,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Turn back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20back. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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