turn away

verb

Definition of turn awaynext
as in to repel
to drive back using tree branches, the campers were able to turn away the charging fox, which was apparently rabid

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 away Reese kept attacking her, kept getting turned away and then got the one layup nobody contested after the result had already been decided. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 The judge's order prevents Ohio from requiring any driver’s license applicant to produce proof-of-citizenship documents before being offered the chance to register to vote, even those applicants turned away for lack of the proper paperwork. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 Slightly turning away from the camera, Schiffer revealed that the back of her bikini top was held together with the netting. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026 Last fall, the Supreme Court turned away Maxwell's appeal, which centered on the nonprosecution agreement, leaving her conviction and sentence intact. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turn away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn away
  1. repel
  2. turn back
  3. resist
  4. repulse
  5. beat off
  6. stave off
Verb
  • Reseeding helps block weed growth, repel lawn diseases, slow soil erosion, and strengthen growth in bare patches.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
  • As mentioned above, Turkey’s deployment of TB2s in the country’s civil war in 2020 proved decisive, with these drones helping break the LNA’s siege on Tripoli and empowering GNA ground forces to repel Haftar’s fighters.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of repel
Verb
  • The 42-year-old turned back the clock Sunday, with 10 strikeouts in seven scoreless innings against the Seattle Mariners.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • At 47, there is room for this stock to turn back up without fighting an overbought reading.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of turn back
Verb
  • He was arrested and will be booked on felony evading, hit-and-run and felony resisting arrest, police said.
    — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The fungus can spread between patients and resist some antifungal treatments.
    — Katia Riddle, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • His recent comments didn’t favor the Browns fanbase, and many Cleveland fans seem viscerally repulsed by him.
    — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Most Americans are repulsed by the core ideas of radical leftists.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • Spurs beat off competition from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain to sign Fernandes, while Manchester City were interested in Tonali.
    — Jay Harris, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Happiness beat off competition from second place The Flaws, an absurdist comedy for ZDF that won the official competition at the same fest.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 12 June 2026
Definition of beat off
Verb
  • Even the 2025 Tigers, the team that staved off a monumental late-season collapse, lives on as a fable highlighting the importance of playing the whole schedule.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Nonetheless, Friend said Nike was going to reduce sell-in to wholesale partners in the coming months to stave off future discounting.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of stave off

Browse Nearby Words

turnarounds
turn away
turn back
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turn away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn%20away. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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