as in turned
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1
as in rotating
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis
turned the doorknob as quietly as possible
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in swinging
to change the course or direction of (something)
the dog turned the stampeding flock of sheep around he turned his cart uphill
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in deviating
to change one's course or direction
we turned left at the light the storm unexpectedly turned south and missed our area
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in becoming
to eventually have as a state or quality
will turn 12 in six months
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in revolving
to move in circles around an axis or center
the wheels turned, but the car was hopelessly stuck and wasn't moving
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in contemplating
to give serious and careful thought to
turned the question every which way but could find no answer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
9
as in persuading
to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge
he did his best to turn his new friends against his ex-wife
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of turning
Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 May 2026
Gravity-defying hairstyles The eye-catching work of Elisabeth Anayes Niouky is turning heads and inspiring African women to embrace their natural hair.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
Some experts think police should be making those calls, The New York Times reported, while others think turning OpenAI into de facto government agents might trigger more unconstitutional searches.
—Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2026
For a sweet way to end the day, try turning it into rice pudding instead of another savory dish.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turning
Verb
Preparation keeps a small project from turning into an unfinished chore.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 May 2026
Gravity-defying hairstyles The eye-catching work of Elisabeth Anayes Niouky is turning heads and inspiring African women to embrace their natural hair.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
Some experts think police should be making those calls, The New York Times reported, while others think turning OpenAI into de facto government agents might trigger more unconstitutional searches.
—Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2026
For a sweet way to end the day, try turning it into rice pudding instead of another savory dish.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning
Verb
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In July, the European Union’s rotating Council Presidency will issue official communications in the Irish language, alongside English, in a historic first.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 May 2026
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At the Venice Biennale, Eshetu is showing The Garden of the Broken-Hearted (2026), a new work that revolves around an olive tree mounted on a rotating dais—with a video of the tree projected onto the tree itself.—
Emmanuel Iduma,
ARTnews.com,
4 May 2026
Verb
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However, it was criticized by pacifists at home and China for deviating from Japan’s postwar self-defense only principle.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
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But Apple has started deviating from this as of late, with the introduction of the eye-catching Cosmic Orange skin in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max last year.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Iris’ dreams of becoming an artist are impeded by her oppressive boss and rigid social structure of the 1850s.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Inspired by her magical storytelling and the world around him, Julián dreams of becoming a mermaid – sparking a dazzling journey from the borough’s sunlit streets to the mystical depths of the sea.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Financing non-durable essentials with 22% APR revolving debt is the mathematical definition of pulling forward future margin to survive today.—
Katica Roy,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
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Despite revolving coordinators and a carousel of teammates, Simmons became the NFL’s finest ballhawk.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But even among the anchors that aren’t contemplating leaving TV for YouTube, the attraction of digital media is too irresistible to ignore.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
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Or, put another way, savers contemplating a $15,000 deposit into this account now can expect to earn a little more than $1 per week on their funds over the next year.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The ground stop, tied to thunderstorms in the area, was scheduled to remain in effect through late morning, with a medium chance it could be extended depending on how the weather evolves.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Forecasters warn that storms will likely come in multiple rounds, with the potential for different hazards depending on timing and location.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Researchers in Germany have developed a new drone interceptor that uses thin metal chains to disable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) midair by tangling their spinning rotors.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
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Gordon says United may be spinning the story.—
Tara Lynch,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Criminals develop fake friendships or romantic relationships with victims over time, eventually persuading them to deposit funds into bogus cryptocurrency investment platforms.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Elections become less about persuading voters and more about configuring the electorate.—
Dan Daley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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