as in to repel
to drive back
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of turn back
The fact that frantic diplomatic officials and business leaders managed to convince Petro to turn back from the abyss highlights the degree to which the Colombian economy is dependent on exports to the United States.
—
Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2025
But lawyers behind the initial push for reform said prosecutors and the governor were using fear mongering tactics to scare the public into turning back the clock.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2025
The first, under the call-sign Reach 538, turned back near the Texas Gulf Coast and landed in Houston.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
Assistant Police Chief John McKean immediately turned back.
—Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for turn back 
Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2025
But lawyers behind the initial push for reform said prosecutors and the governor were using fear mongering tactics to scare the public into turning back the clock.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2025
The first, under the call-sign Reach 538, turned back near the Texas Gulf Coast and landed in Houston.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
Assistant Police Chief John McKean immediately turned back.
—Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for turn back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn back
Verb
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Intense light works wonders when repelling the creatures of meth, as do air horns and other sonic blasts.—
Matt Thompson,
SPIN,
3 Feb. 2025
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One shopper added that the fabric repels water better than the sunbrella fabrics on their other furniture.—
Megan Schaltegger,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Tory Burch, known for its 2000s Reva ballet flat that even Oprah herself couldn’t resist wearing, is experiencing somewhat of a Tory Burch renaissance these past couple years.—
Gina Vaynshteyn,
StyleCaster,
11 Feb. 2025
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Their attorneys fought the charges and resisted the Justice Department's previous efforts to keep the cases moving forward on appeal after Mr. Trump's election win.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Then followed my colleagues, members of Congress—all systematically turned away.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
10 Feb. 2025
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To effectively end his night, Holmgren turned away a thunderous one-handed dunk attempt by Barnes, getting revenge for earlier.—
Eric Koreen,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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These same, once skeptical business leaders rallied around Trump in 2017 but were repulsed by many of his words and actions within eight months, withdrawing support, not returning to give him a second chance until now.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian,
TIME,
17 Jan. 2025
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Western publics by and large have managed to stave off compassion fatigue and remain committed to helping Ukraine repulse the Russian invasion.—
Nina Jankowicz,
Foreign Affairs,
4 May 2023
Verb
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In the Trump administration's first legal bid to stave off local efforts to impede immigration operations, federal officials are asking a judge to bar the Illinois, Chicago, Cook County and the Cook County Sheriff from using local laws that protect migrants to hamper law enforcement.—
Robert Legare,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2025
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In theory, that offers a window for Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to land a deal that could stave off the trade war — much like Canada and Mexico.—
Courtenay Brown,
Axios,
4 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near turn back
Cite this Entry
“Turn back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20back. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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