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
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
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.
—Steve Karnowski, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Analysis of video from the scene of the shooting in Minneapolis done by the New York Times shows Good's vehicle appeared to be turning away from the officer.
—James Powel, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
The videos show that her SUV was moving slowly and her wheels were turning away from the ICE agents, critics said.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
But recent election results suggest trouble for the Republicans, with voters who fueled their gains in 2024 turning away from the party.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Bradley cited the classic work of sociology, Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone, with the memorable thesis that Americans were turning away from community.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Steve Rubell, as a sort of publicity stunt, had started turning away celebrities in order to make the newspapers.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
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
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.
—Steve Karnowski, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Analysis of video from the scene of the shooting in Minneapolis done by the New York Times shows Good's vehicle appeared to be turning away from the officer.
—James Powel, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
The videos show that her SUV was moving slowly and her wheels were turning away from the ICE agents, critics said.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
But recent election results suggest trouble for the Republicans, with voters who fueled their gains in 2024 turning away from the party.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Bradley cited the classic work of sociology, Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone, with the memorable thesis that Americans were turning away from community.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Steve Rubell, as a sort of publicity stunt, had started turning away celebrities in order to make the newspapers.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning away
Verb
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Morris shook Crockett’s hand before turning back down the sidewalk.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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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
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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Both types of down do a good job keeping you warm and repelling the elements.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2026
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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
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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
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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
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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,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turning away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20away. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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