as in repulsed
to drive back
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of turned back
It would have been turned back on at the request of the hotel, Zaya said.
—
Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Another witness, Sylvester Ramirez, said the ride was turned back on after one carriage had broken off.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
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
Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Another witness, Sylvester Ramirez, said the ride was turned back on after one carriage had broken off.
—Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned back
Verb
-
After a disastrous trip to Mexico where Irina appeared repulsed by pretty much everything Zack did, the couple split and Zack crawled back to Bliss.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
-
He was repulsed then, but years later, thinking about a man who’d expressed an interest in the human body in the most macabre possible way sparked something in Hunnam.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Those turned away are instead turning up at the local pawn shop.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
-
South African pay television service DStv lost 84% of its subscribers in Kenya in the year to June 2025, as Kenyans turned away from the service amid rising living costs, according to the communications regulator’s data.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
29 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
-
Many salaried workers at General Motors initially resisted the return to the office policy.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
Freep.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The move is a departure for an organization that has resisted significant leadership changes under the ownership of the Monfort family.—
Melissa Lockard,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turned back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turned%20back. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share