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
Before taking a seat, Doncic turned back toward Redick as reserve forward Jarred Vanderbilt stood up and clapped as if cheering on the Lakers to get in between his teammate and his coach.
—
Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
When Friedmann turned back around, Gambill was pointing his revolver at him.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Trains were turned back at the West Oakland and Embarcadero stations.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
But the group was turned back by Syrian authorities to the Roj detention camp, due to unspecified procedural problems.
—Rod McGuirk, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Vietnam turned back the Chinese over the course of nine days.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 17 Feb. 2026
During that isolation my body turned back to the prison.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Nancy Guthrie’s home has been turned back over to Guthrie’s family.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
When Cuba denied them entry—followed by the United States and Canada—the vessel was turned back to Europe.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 2 Feb. 2026
Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
When Friedmann turned back around, Gambill was pointing his revolver at him.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Trains were turned back at the West Oakland and Embarcadero stations.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
But the group was turned back by Syrian authorities to the Roj detention camp, due to unspecified procedural problems.
—Rod McGuirk, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Vietnam turned back the Chinese over the course of nine days.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 17 Feb. 2026
During that isolation my body turned back to the prison.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Nancy Guthrie’s home has been turned back over to Guthrie’s family.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
When Cuba denied them entry—followed by the United States and Canada—the vessel was turned back to Europe.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 2 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned back
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
-
That effort quickly repulsed decent Americans.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Voting was extended in Dallas County and Williamson County, outside Austin, after voters reported being turned away and directed to different voting precincts because of new primary rules.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Drayton turned away from the computer and fell to her knees.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Qatar’s Defense Ministry said a ballistic missile attack had been repelled, while sirens sounded in Bahrain but there were no reports of impact.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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Wasps are naturally repelled by peppermint, clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Senegal is holding major debt reconciliation talks with the International Monetary Fund but Sonko has resisted the Washington lender’s call for restructuring.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
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The fiercest criticism came after Pretti's death, when Noem quickly alleged that Pretti approached Border Patrol agents with a gun and violently resisted after officers tried to disarm him.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turned back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turned%20back. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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