as in turning away
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 turning back
One thing that particularly excited him was turning back the clock for exteriors on New York’s Lower East Side, where the tight shooting schedule often required the art department to transform locations as quickly as possible.
—
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2026
There’s turning back up until the deed is done.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
An invasion of Taiwan might start with Beijing metaphorically burning its ships so there would be no turning back.
—Zack Cooper, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2025
When Genevieve’s physics experiment at the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair goes explosively wrong, Ash jumps in to save the day, turning back time by a few minutes to prevent disaster.
—Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
When the bags are on the heads, there is no turning back.
—Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
There would be no turning back.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Week 8 highlights include Acalanes beating Campolindo in a matchup between unbeaten teams, Los Gatos getting a signature win at Wilcox, California turning back San Ramon Valley and more.
—Darren Sabedra, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
The night will be remembered for Scherzer turning back the clock at 41, pitching 5 2/3 innings in the Jays’ 8-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners that evened the series at two games apiece.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2026
There’s turning back up until the deed is done.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
An invasion of Taiwan might start with Beijing metaphorically burning its ships so there would be no turning back.
—Zack Cooper, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2025
When Genevieve’s physics experiment at the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair goes explosively wrong, Ash jumps in to save the day, turning back time by a few minutes to prevent disaster.
—Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
When the bags are on the heads, there is no turning back.
—Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
There would be no turning back.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Week 8 highlights include Acalanes beating Campolindo in a matchup between unbeaten teams, Los Gatos getting a signature win at Wilcox, California turning back San Ramon Valley and more.
—Darren Sabedra, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
The night will be remembered for Scherzer turning back the clock at 41, pitching 5 2/3 innings in the Jays’ 8-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners that evened the series at two games apiece.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning back
Verb
-
Multiple videos also show a federal agent in a gray jacket reaching into the scuffle empty-handed and emerging with a gun in his right hand, turning away from the man when the first shot is fired, then running across the street as more shots are fired.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Trump administration officials say the officer, Jonathan Ross, shot her in self-defense, although videos of the encounter show the Honda Pilot slowly turning away from him.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Both types of down do a good job keeping you warm and repelling the elements.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2026
-
Ways To Prevent Mice Scents are good at repelling mice in the yard and around the house.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
While there are dismemberments and other bits of gruesome violence to be found in the film, Badlands is largely aimed at endearing its audience rather than repulsing them.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The driver of the car, identified as 36-year-old Amber O'Neal, was taken to the hospital and then booked into the Jefferson County Jail on unrelated, outstanding warrants for third-degree assault, vehicular eluding, and resisting arrest.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
More effective diplomacy, as demonstrated by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron at the same forum, conveys the same message about resisting bullying through measured language that preserves dignity and institutional respect.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The dogs had driven the woman into the surf before a tourist came to her rescue, beating off the dingoes.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turning back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20back. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
