as in repulsed
to drive back
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of turned back
But on Sunday, the Bills turned back the clock to the days when passing offense reigned supreme, put themselves in nickel with Cam Lewis, and never came out of it.
—
Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
But while 52,000 customers across the country got their lights turned back on, approximately 490,380 customers are still without electricity, Vaz acknowledged.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
But in the meantime, the franchise has turned back to a familiar face to bolster the offense -- that of receiver Gabe Davis.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
The Chiefs turned Rice into the focal point, and turned back the clock on their production.
—Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Most of the group turned back, but the teen decided to try it out, reportedly relying on her experience, according to On The Verge.
—Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
The scene was turned back over to the company Thursday, McCracken said.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
The plane hasn’t turned back to Boise.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2025
Here our cicerone stopped and turned back to address us.
—Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
But while 52,000 customers across the country got their lights turned back on, approximately 490,380 customers are still without electricity, Vaz acknowledged.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
But in the meantime, the franchise has turned back to a familiar face to bolster the offense -- that of receiver Gabe Davis.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
The Chiefs turned Rice into the focal point, and turned back the clock on their production.
—Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Most of the group turned back, but the teen decided to try it out, reportedly relying on her experience, according to On The Verge.
—Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
The scene was turned back over to the company Thursday, McCracken said.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
The plane hasn’t turned back to Boise.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2025
Here our cicerone stopped and turned back to address us.
—Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned back
Verb
-
For reasons that are quite possibly too unbearable to contemplate, a large group of American voters was not repulsed by such slander—they were actually aroused by it—and our politics have not been the same.—
Jeffrey Goldberg,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Nicole is the kind of wife who moves out of her father’s home into her husband’s home, and who has been taught to be repulsed by the mushroom spores covering her body, just like all the women in their community.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Their counterparts who had been turned away from Mercer County, too, formed communities elsewhere in Ohio.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Marquette’s Ivan Hooshmand then scored top middle over goalkeeper Parker Streumke, and Hudson’s Calvin Lessard was turned away on a shot inside the right post.—
Jim Hoehn,
Twin Cities,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that its troops had repelled a Ukrainian special forces landing and killed all 11 soldiers who arrived by helicopter.—
Elmira Aliieva,
NBC news,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Popping into a camp full of allies newly wary of the 428-year-old vampire in their midst, Regis begins by clearing up the misconception that he can be repelled by garlic, then drops a line about Jaskier’s blood smelling good.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Other districts have considered offering virtual options This fall, Chicago school board members called for a remote option during a federal intervention there, but Chicago Public Schools has resisted offering it.—
Rebecca Santana,
Fortune,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Tompkins, who for years resisted calls to step down, faced no shortage of accusations during his time in public office.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turned back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turned%20back. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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