as in to repel
to drive back
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of turn back
Beyond that, DeCosta needs to turn back the clock and remember how some of the most successful Ravens teams were built.
—
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Stellantis’ forays into EVs on this side of the pond have clearly not gone well, and with federal incentives and emissions targets being axed, the company has turned back hard into stuffing as many Hemis into vehicles that will fit them.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 7 Jan. 2026
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
People like Carnegie and Rockefeller and Mellon turned back to helping the common good.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn back
Verb
-
Some have coatings that are meant to repel water or fingerprints.—
-
Madrid’s back line were forced to repel multiple crosses, while Courtois saved from Baena (twice) and Sorloth.—
Verb
-
After a man appears to resist, the situation escalates as several agents tackle him and place him in handcuffs.—
-
Pahlavi has encouraged Iranians to resist the Islamic regime by participating in mass protests.—
Verb
-
Disappointed sellers turned away, hearts and minds still in hand.—
-
The videos show that her SUV was moving slowly and her wheels were turning away from the ICE agents, critics said.—
Verb
-
For reasons that are quite possibly too unbearable to contemplate, a large group of American voters was not repulsed by such slander—they were actually aroused by it—and our politics have not been the same.—
-
Nicole is the kind of wife who moves out of her father’s home into her husband’s home, and who has been taught to be repulsed by the mushroom spores covering her body, just like all the women in their community.—
Verb
-
As California schools face worsening economic conditions, many districts are bolstering their reserves to stave off deficits.—
-
Studies have indicated that anywhere between 15% to 60% of the weight people lose is lean muscle mass, meaning that those who are using the drugs are advised to engage in a weekly exercise routine that includes strength training to stave off too much muscle loss.—
Verb
-
On this play, Tegra Tshabola got beat off the ball, forcing Donaldson to take a different hole before running into a defender who center Carson Hinzman was on until the hole shifted.—
-
Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP What To Know Obama beat off stiff competition from the likes of David Attenborough and Tom Hanks to win the Outstanding Narrator prize for his narration of the five-part Netflix series Our Oceans, which examines marine life across the world's oceans.—
Cite this Entry
“Turn back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20back. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share