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
Investigators went in and out of the family's home throughout the day, but Carillo said it has been turned back over to the Guthries.
—
Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Nancy Guthrie’s home has been turned back over to Guthrie’s family.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
During a news conference on Tuesday, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said the house was turned back over to the family on Monday.
—Pat Milton, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
When Cuba denied them entry—followed by the United States and Canada—the vessel was turned back to Europe.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 2 Feb. 2026
Bob Frid / Imagn Images VANCOUVER — As Joseph Woll turned back to watch a puck drift slowly from behind his net onto the stick of Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland, Woll quickly had to become a hero.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
In early 2013, having ticked her Antarctica box, Koch turned back to her other great passion and applied for admission to NASA’s 21st astronaut class.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Things got off to an inauspicious start when Air Force One was turned back by mechanical issues.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026
The aircraft turned back and landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where the president and those traveling with him were set to board a different aircraft and then resume travel to Switzerland for the global economic conference.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026
Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Nancy Guthrie’s home has been turned back over to Guthrie’s family.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
During a news conference on Tuesday, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said the house was turned back over to the family on Monday.
—Pat Milton, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
When Cuba denied them entry—followed by the United States and Canada—the vessel was turned back to Europe.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 2 Feb. 2026
Bob Frid / Imagn Images VANCOUVER — As Joseph Woll turned back to watch a puck drift slowly from behind his net onto the stick of Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland, Woll quickly had to become a hero.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
In early 2013, having ticked her Antarctica box, Koch turned back to her other great passion and applied for admission to NASA’s 21st astronaut class.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Things got off to an inauspicious start when Air Force One was turned back by mechanical issues.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026
The aircraft turned back and landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where the president and those traveling with him were set to board a different aircraft and then resume travel to Switzerland for the global economic conference.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned back
Verb
-
And Republicans are among those repulsed by the ongoing scandals.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
-
That effort quickly repulsed decent Americans.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Witnesses reportedly told police that the 31-year-old rapper tried to enter White’s private event but started arguing with the footballer when he and his friends were turned away.—
David Matthews,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Soon after allegedly being turned away at the White House, Lake also bought a condo in her native Iowa, according to MS Now, perhaps to try her luck in politics there.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Another white woman my father spoke with rejected the Manasseh Club because she was repelled by members’ fixation on light skin.—
Dorothy Roberts,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
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Though they’re attracted to low electrical fields emitted by smaller fish, they are repelled by the strength of the field from the device.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Rather than mimicking human movement for its own sake, Atlas prioritizes efficiency, balance, and perception, aiming to solve industrial tasks that have historically resisted automation.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Jes Staley, a high-ranking executive who was Epstein’s primary contact, was among those who resisted cutting ties.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turned back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turned%20back. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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