as in repulsed
to drive back
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
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Recent Examples of turned back
But then, the lights turned back on.
—
Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 17 Sep. 2025
Later in the season, as more northern waters cool off and the main hurricane development region stays toasty, the instability dial could be turned back up.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2025
Clayton Kershaw has turned back the clock.
—The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Broyles said Los Amigos and Santiago high schools have turned back-to-school night into a kind of community resource fair.
—Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2025
Instead, they were turned back to the locker room.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2025
Davis Webb turned back toward the Broncos’ sideline in the final minute of the first half on Saturday and saw players and coaches lined up for high fives and fist bumps.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 17 Sep. 2025
Later in the season, as more northern waters cool off and the main hurricane development region stays toasty, the instability dial could be turned back up.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2025
Clayton Kershaw has turned back the clock.
—The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Broyles said Los Amigos and Santiago high schools have turned back-to-school night into a kind of community resource fair.
—Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2025
Instead, they were turned back to the locker room.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2025
Davis Webb turned back toward the Broncos’ sideline in the final minute of the first half on Saturday and saw players and coaches lined up for high fives and fist bumps.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned back
Verb
-
Jackson was repulsed at the idea of the film being shown to the public, as was Zapruder, who quickly settled again with Time-Life.—
Time,
Time,
20 Sep. 2025
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At almost the same time, the Grenadian Army repulsed special operations forces sent to capture Richmond Hill Prison and Fort Rupert.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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There was Skubal, the best pitcher in the American League, inexplicably trying to flip the ball between his legs, back turned away from first.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Fry, 29, fell to the ground with a bloodied face while Skubal covered his eyes, tossed his cap and turned away from the scene.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In fact, the more aggressive Beijing has become toward Taiwan, the more Beijing has repelled rather than attracted the people of Taiwan.—
PHILIP H. GORDON,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Sep. 2025
-
The material also strongly repelled chloride ions, cutting corrosion risks.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Big Ten resisted, favoring instead its own proposal that featured a stacked deck of automatic bids.—
Blake Toppmeyer,
USA TODAY,
25 Sep. 2025
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The suspect resisted arrest and officers used a Taser twice before he was taken into custody, police said.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turned back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turned%20back. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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