turned back

past tense of turn back

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 turned back Climbing parties on the Normal Route had turned back earlier in the day. William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 After one more rejection by Canada, the ship turned back to Europe. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026 Maritime experts said at least four ships subsequently turned back from the corridor. Eleni Giokos, CNN Money, 27 June 2026 But at least three ships exiting the Persian Gulf through that route turned back Thursday. Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 25 June 2026 Policy was challenged by asylum seekers Thirteen asylum seekers and Al Otro Lado challenged the metering practice in 2017 on behalf of migrants who were turned back to Mexico. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 25 June 2026 All turned back from fear or foul weather. David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 2 June 2026 The vacant home could be turned back into staff quarters. Emma Banks, InStyle, 29 May 2026 While the early 2000s have certainly been trending as part of streetwear and Gen Z style inspiration, several high-profile stars, like Lopez, have turned back to the 2000s for their red carpet and promotional tour looks. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned back
Verb
  • Plenty of people bought it, plenty were repulsed by it.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Firstman’s debut directorial effort, Club Kid, shrewdly acknowledges those garish personality tics, which have both endeared and repulsed audiences.
    Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Capacity is spoken for before it is built, and the largest buyers on earth are being turned away.
    Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Federal attorneys say people turned away at the border could come back later, though lines were thousands of people long when the policy was in place before.
    ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • At the other end, their last line of defence repeatedly repelled Canada.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 28 June 2026
  • It’s often said that pests are repelled by the strong scent of coffee, or that mosquitoes won’t bite and ants won’t be able to navigate by their scent trails if coffee grounds are around.
    Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Hibon says the filmmakers deliberately resisted recreating the look of the old cartoon.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026
  • Europe has long resisted air conditioning as noisy, an eyesore on architectural facades and unnecessary, as brutal summer heat has been relatively short-lived.
    Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Turned back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turned%20back. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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