as in reversal
a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite
the candidate's frequent about-faces on issues disturbs many voters
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of about-face
Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 26 May 2025
But in 2021, the city did a hard about-face, replacing her and her team with Caggiano and an all-GOP council.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025
Oceanside’s resolution to fly the rainbow flag in June for Pride Month did an about-face Wednesday, when the council member who cast the deciding vote changed his mind.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
Crypto Twitter, unsurprisingly, gleefully celebrated his about-face.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Noun
Two years later, amid rising crime near campus, the university made an about-face and began rolling out fresh contracts with MPD.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 26 May 2025
But in 2021, the city did a hard about-face, replacing her and her team with Caggiano and an all-GOP council.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025
Oceanside’s resolution to fly the rainbow flag in June for Pride Month did an about-face Wednesday, when the council member who cast the deciding vote changed his mind.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
Crypto Twitter, unsurprisingly, gleefully celebrated his about-face.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Recent Examples of Synonyms for about-face
Noun
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George Curlee, Garland, Texas George Curlee, 51, is keenly aware of how the CFPB’s policy reversals threaten his finances.—
J.J. McCorvey,
NBC news,
11 June 2025
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Kennedy's decision marks a reversal from what a key Republican senator said the Trump Cabinet member had promised during his confirmation hearings earlier this year.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
11 June 2025
Verb
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The rights to Fixed reverted back to Sony, which tossed shopped the project into the market, for Netflix to fetch.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2025
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The House passed a stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shutdown in March, but the bill reverted Washington to its 2024 budget until Congress can pass new appropriations by Oct. 1.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
10 June 2025
Verb
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Finally, with homicides soaring to record levels, exasperated authorities pivoted to a novel strategy: Mexico filed a $10-billion suit in U.S. federal court seeking to have Smith & Wesson and other signature manufacturers held accountable for the country’s epidemic of shooting deaths.—
Patrick J. McDonnell,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
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After Hurley's rejection, the Lakers pivoted and hired JJ Redick.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Britain is not the only country pressed into making a volte-face.—
London Business School,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
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The realities of Putin’s momentum, coupled with Washington’s volte-face, have led to a clear mood shift in Kyiv.—
Daryna Mayer,
NBC News,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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However, the Trump administration recently rescinded it, placing him, and more than 350,000 Venezuelans, at risk of deportation.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
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Arrests are being made in places previously considered off limits, and the administration earlier this year rescinded a policy that prohibited enforcement actions in hospitals, schools or houses of worship.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
Verb
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Of course, Apple will have thought of this and curved the edges, for instance, to mitigate this.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Halfway into the decade, the company's latest sustainability report released Thursday shows the software giant has a long way to go to meet that goal but may be starting to bend its emissions curve downward.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 May 2025
Verb
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But the decision was overturned to a no-contest after Keyshawn tested positive for marijuana.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2025
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Adeyemi then had a penalty overturned in the 35th minute.—
Manuel Veth,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Verb
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The policy changes and enforcement actions were seen by critics as Columbia bowing to the administration’s demands, rather than standing up for the values of free speech and academic freedom.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
5 June 2025
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Latest from Michael Hiltzik Voices Hiltzik: Target learns that bowing to anti-DEI backers can be costly, a lesson for those bowing to Trump Voices Hiltzik: AI ‘hallucinations’ are a growing problem for the legal profession Voices Hiltzik: Who’s responsible for the aviation mess?—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/about-face. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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