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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of about-face
Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Apr. 2026
The vessel originally performed a U-turn near Larak and Qeshm islands before executing a second about-face to resume its inbound course.
—Weilun Soon, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Mamdani’s also done an about-face on the city’s rental assistance program, CityFHEPs, angering progressive allies.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
In a rare about-face, the move by Israeli police to block Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from the holiest site in Christianity was reversed after criticism.
—Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Noun
When Swalwell succumbed to the growing political pressure to bow out of the race, and eventually resigned from Congress, Gallego did an about-face on his support for the California congressman.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Apr. 2026
The vessel originally performed a U-turn near Larak and Qeshm islands before executing a second about-face to resume its inbound course.
—Weilun Soon, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Mamdani’s also done an about-face on the city’s rental assistance program, CityFHEPs, angering progressive allies.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
In a rare about-face, the move by Israeli police to block Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from the holiest site in Christianity was reversed after criticism.
—Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Recent Examples of Synonyms for about-face
Noun
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In recent years, the state Supreme Court has agreed to review multiple high-profile cases from Santa Clara County where prosecutors challenged an appellate court’s reversal of an initial conviction.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
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What followed was a series of appeals and reversals that kept Rose on (and off) death row for nearly 50 years.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 2017, Neverland Ranch was reverted back to its original name of Sycamore Valley Ranch, per Billboard.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
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Finally, for unknown reasons, hydrangeas of any color may suddenly bloom in green for a year or two before reverting back to their original color.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Platner had already been pivoting toward the general election, focusing his stump speech more on Collins, while a pro-Collins super PAC has spent $2 million in attack ads against him.—
Julia Terruso,
Time,
30 Apr. 2026
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After playing basketball in college and in the G-League Ignite, O’Neal pivoted to focus on business endeavors.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This volte-face was not just about electoral politics.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
17 Jan. 2026
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The Kremlin has denied any such request was made, which tells you something about how Moscow views the optics of this diplomatic volte-face.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Less than three weeks after selecting Tyrone Brookins as its next superintendent, the Inver Grove Heights school board on Wednesday night rescinded its contract offer, citing board division in its original selection of Brookins as the lone finalist.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Apr. 2026
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Community members are pressuring the City Council to rescind support altogether, Driggs said, but the resolution allows council to try other avenues first.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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All communal areas can be reached by curving but steep paths.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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Depending on the positioning of this wing, the robot can glide forward or curve back toward its starting point.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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About $589 million in revenue generated from the tax has not been used, which in part is due to a lack of flexibility in how the money can be used, as well as due to legal concerns amid a threat to overturn the initiative.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Family members said it’s been a long road of frustration, agony and sadness watching Hitchcock’s death sentences get overturned three times amid the nearly a dozen appeals his attorneys have filed over the decades.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The film was the top film over this past weekend after bowing on the platform Friday.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
30 Apr. 2026
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Charles placed an arrangement of flowers on a parapet before the couple silently bowed their heads in a moment of reflection.—
Philip Marcelo,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/about-face. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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