as in turning back
to drive back
using tree branches, the campers were able to turn away the charging fox, which was apparently rabid
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Recent Examples of turning away
After losing a child far too young, a parent might be forgiven for turning away from the world, shrinking in their grief.
—
James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
If successful, more inmates will pursue a path of recovery and become productive citizens, turning away from a life of crime.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 1 May 2026
There has been some press of late suggesting that studios are turning away from A-list festivals.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
Whether this is a PR play or a first attempt at re-engaging with retailers after turning away from them five years ago remains to be seen.
—Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026
Turning up the music in get car so that her daughter won’t hear, the grandmother gets out the car, takes a revolver out of her bag, and wincing and turning away, shoots the animal in the head.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
His first goal for the club arrived the following week in emphatic fashion, turning away from pressure neatly before cannoning this left-footed shot off the underside of the bar.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
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
James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
If successful, more inmates will pursue a path of recovery and become productive citizens, turning away from a life of crime.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 1 May 2026
There has been some press of late suggesting that studios are turning away from A-list festivals.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
Whether this is a PR play or a first attempt at re-engaging with retailers after turning away from them five years ago remains to be seen.
—Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026
Turning up the music in get car so that her daughter won’t hear, the grandmother gets out the car, takes a revolver out of her bag, and wincing and turning away, shoots the animal in the head.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
His first goal for the club arrived the following week in emphatic fashion, turning away from pressure neatly before cannoning this left-footed shot off the underside of the bar.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning away
Verb
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But French Fiction is turning back after running a one-and-one-sixteenth-mile race at the Ashland.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
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Chubb said the majority of investors will keep turning back to what has been the driver of the bull run since late 2022.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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Tristan Jarry got his first start of the series, repelling 34 pucks.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
27 Apr. 2026
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Root-knot nematodes are one of the biggest pest problems for eggplants, and marigolds' strong smell is excellent for repelling nematodes.—
Heather Bien,
The Spruce,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The man was later booked on suspicion of crimes that included corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant, robbery, resisting arrest, and drug possession after he was found with methamphetamine.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
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Finally, Teo says Ethereal’s success stems in part from sticking to early-stage startups and resisting the temptation to jump on bandwagons.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Verb
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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 away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20away. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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