as in turning away
to drive back
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
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Recent Examples of turning back
There is no turning back, no compromise, no side road.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
But savvy marketing campaigns and partnerships with major employers have tricked consumers into turning back to payday loans.
—Christopher Greenwood, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Left with few other options, India is now turning back to Russian oil.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
Once your pair crunchy snap peas with peppery arugula, a sweet and zippy homemade dressing, and garlicky toasted breadcrumbs, there is no turning back.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
So, crude oil imported to California from the Gulf Coast states must first sail east to the Bahamas before turning back west to California.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
On the matter of civil rights for all Californians, there was no turning back.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
William Johnston, an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton, previously told USA TODAY that abstaining from eating meat is also a form of penance – admitting to any wrongdoings and sins while turning back to belief in God.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
The rise of artificial intelligence is inevitable, and there is no turning back.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026
But savvy marketing campaigns and partnerships with major employers have tricked consumers into turning back to payday loans.
—Christopher Greenwood, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Left with few other options, India is now turning back to Russian oil.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
Once your pair crunchy snap peas with peppery arugula, a sweet and zippy homemade dressing, and garlicky toasted breadcrumbs, there is no turning back.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
So, crude oil imported to California from the Gulf Coast states must first sail east to the Bahamas before turning back west to California.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
On the matter of civil rights for all Californians, there was no turning back.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
William Johnston, an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton, previously told USA TODAY that abstaining from eating meat is also a form of penance – admitting to any wrongdoings and sins while turning back to belief in God.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
The rise of artificial intelligence is inevitable, and there is no turning back.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning back
Verb
-
Border policy used in past administrations The practice of not letting an asylum-seeker pass through a checkpoint was used periodically during the Obama administration, when border officers began turning away hundreds of Haitian asylum-seekers at ports of entry in California.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Hospitals ran out of blood, and started turning away patients.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The housekeeping team fogs the balés every week to keep most of the biting insects at bay, and gardens teeming with mosquito-repelling lemongrass and zodia plants help keep them at a distance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In any context, everyone is justified in resisting or repelling any invasion of their person or property, extracting restitution or exacting punishment in response to an invasion, or helping someone else do the same.—
Connor Okeeffe,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
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
-
Pride should come from your willingness to improve, not from resisting uncomfortable truths.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
One individual was also charged with complicity, and another was charged with resisting arrest, the department said.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 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,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turning back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20back. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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