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
Beiersdorf brand Nivea is turning back time in a new partnership with beloved Y2K clothing brand Juicy Couture.
—
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
Week 4 highlights featured Willow Glen’s comeback win over Christopher, Foothill’s Max Shuga making an amazing catch to set up the winning touchdown against San Leandro, Piedmont turning back Aragon, De La Salle holding off Grant-Sacramento and more.
—Darren Sabedra, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Advertisement Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have said there is no turning back on this project, despite staunch opposition from Hezbollah.
—Bilal Y. Saab, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
The steam then goes to a condenser where it’s cooled by seawater, turning back into water to be pumped back to the steam generator, repeating the cycle.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025
The back caught just two of his six targets, earned Nix’s slight ire after not turning back for the ball on a third down, and was relegated mostly to the bench in the second half.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2025
And, George, turning back to Chicago.
—ABC News, 7 Sep. 2025
Chapman is in the midst of a career season at age 37, turning back the clock to re-establish himself as one of baseball’s most dominant closers.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Lane picked up three on first down, but the Otay Ranch defense stiffened, turning back the next two runs for no gain.
—Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
Week 4 highlights featured Willow Glen’s comeback win over Christopher, Foothill’s Max Shuga making an amazing catch to set up the winning touchdown against San Leandro, Piedmont turning back Aragon, De La Salle holding off Grant-Sacramento and more.
—Darren Sabedra, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Advertisement Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have said there is no turning back on this project, despite staunch opposition from Hezbollah.
—Bilal Y. Saab, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
The steam then goes to a condenser where it’s cooled by seawater, turning back into water to be pumped back to the steam generator, repeating the cycle.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025
The back caught just two of his six targets, earned Nix’s slight ire after not turning back for the ball on a third down, and was relegated mostly to the bench in the second half.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2025
And, George, turning back to Chicago.
—ABC News, 7 Sep. 2025
Chapman is in the midst of a career season at age 37, turning back the clock to re-establish himself as one of baseball’s most dominant closers.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Lane picked up three on first down, but the Otay Ranch defense stiffened, turning back the next two runs for no gain.
—Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning back
Verb
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Students from the kingdom are increasingly turning away from US universities in particular, put off by a mix of hostile immigration policies, concerns over gun violence, and the kingdom’s own push to grow its domestic education sector.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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Local solar installers are now fully booked and turning away new customers ahead of the December 31 deadline.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the first episode, the recruits wasted no time in repelling from a helicopter hovering in the air.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Sep. 2025
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Realistically, your best chance of success at naturally repelling rats may be using predator urine, repellent pouches, or ultrasonic devices that require less worry and upkeep.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Yoni Mendez-Lopez, 29, a Mexican national, was taken into custody with a record that includes resisting an officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, assault on a law enforcement officer, driving without a valid license, and attempting to flee to elude law enforcement, according to ICE.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Wood explained that speaking out on her feelings about the sketch was about resisting the instinct to shrink herself.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turning back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20back. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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