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
Mike Conley turned back the clock and hit four threes for the club.
—
David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Following recent market volatility and the completion of the latest economic cycle shifts, attention has turned back to traditional safe-haven assets.
—Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
Trump turned back the latest proposal almost as soon as it was delivered.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2026
Among the vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire, several were fired upon and others turned back.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Time can only be turned back so far, even here, where history abounds.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Trump vowed to maintain a blockade of Iranian ports if Tehran refused to reach a deal; the effort has so far turned back 27 ships bound for or departing Iranian ports.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Two of the oil-carrying ships turned back in the first two hours after the blockade went into effect Monday morning.
—Yarden Segev, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
At least two vessels that had appeared to be heading for the exit turned back.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026
David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Following recent market volatility and the completion of the latest economic cycle shifts, attention has turned back to traditional safe-haven assets.
—Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
Trump turned back the latest proposal almost as soon as it was delivered.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2026
Among the vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire, several were fired upon and others turned back.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Time can only be turned back so far, even here, where history abounds.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Trump vowed to maintain a blockade of Iranian ports if Tehran refused to reach a deal; the effort has so far turned back 27 ships bound for or departing Iranian ports.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Two of the oil-carrying ships turned back in the first two hours after the blockade went into effect Monday morning.
—Yarden Segev, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
At least two vessels that had appeared to be heading for the exit turned back.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned back
Verb
-
Anyone who has worked in or observed the media industry for the last couple of decades will recognize and be repulsed by nepo-baby Jay, who is undeniably villainous.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Floyd, distraught by his own physical failures, is nevertheless repulsed by the sight of Carol in her big, burly ump gear.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Luka Gavran turned away three shots for Toronto.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
-
Inside Florida clinics, women continuously arrive further along than six weeks, shocked when they are turned away.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
In 1862, Mexican troops repelled French attacks on the city of Puebla de los Ángeles in the Battle of Puebla, also known as the Battle of Cinco de Mayo.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
-
Ukrainian forces shot down and repelled 249 drones, while hits from ballistic missiles and 19 drones were recorded in 15 locations, the air force said in a Facebook update.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Many Jewish people across the world are Zionists, and so there is a temptation, which needs to be resisted, to hold Jewish people across the world responsible for the misdeeds of Israel.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Trump endorsed a series of primary challengers against GOP lawmakers who resisted his efforts to redistrict Indiana ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turned back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turned%20back. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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