as in repulsed
to drive back
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
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Recent Examples of turned back
Sunset and the other arteries became metal chokepoints; engines were rerouted or turned back.
—
Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
But now the cameras have been turned back on them.
—Craig Spencer, STAT, 13 May 2026
Repairs were finally completed in October 2025 and on Wednesday, the fountain was turned back on.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
When Reaves and Doncic were hurt, James turned back the clock again to star in the Lakers’ first-round series win.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
The clock is also turned back to 1957.
—Dennis Valera, CBS News, 7 May 2026
Mike Conley turned back the clock and hit four threes for the club.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Following recent market volatility and the completion of the latest economic cycle shifts, attention has turned back to traditional safe-haven assets.
—Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
Trump turned back the latest proposal almost as soon as it was delivered.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2026
Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
But now the cameras have been turned back on them.
—Craig Spencer, STAT, 13 May 2026
Repairs were finally completed in October 2025 and on Wednesday, the fountain was turned back on.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
When Reaves and Doncic were hurt, James turned back the clock again to star in the Lakers’ first-round series win.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
The clock is also turned back to 1957.
—Dennis Valera, CBS News, 7 May 2026
Mike Conley turned back the clock and hit four threes for the club.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Following recent market volatility and the completion of the latest economic cycle shifts, attention has turned back to traditional safe-haven assets.
—Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
Trump turned back the latest proposal almost as soon as it was delivered.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned back
Verb
-
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
-
Anyone who has worked in or observed the media industry for the last couple of decades will recognize and be repulsed by nepo-baby Jay, who is undeniably villainous.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And even then, access isn’t guaranteed; capacity limits can still leave you waiting or turned away.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
-
Patrick Schulte turned away three shots for Columbus (3-6-3).—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
In 1862, Mexican troops repelled French attacks on the city of Puebla de los Ángeles in the Battle of Puebla, also known as the Battle of Cinco de Mayo.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
-
Ukrainian forces shot down and repelled 249 drones, while hits from ballistic missiles and 19 drones were recorded in 15 locations, the air force said in a Facebook update.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
While Senate passage of the ROAD to Housing Act is a positive development, time and time again, the forces that support NIMBYism have resisted the carrot approach.—
Michael Schill,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
Workers resisted him with false reports of incompetence, machine sabotage, and especially social pressure—something that worked on new recruits but not on Taylor himself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turned back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turned%20back. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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