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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Recent Examples of about-face
Catherine Baab, Quartz, 6 May 2025
The same office that helped craft the agreement to treat indigenous students equally made a stunning about-face and decided in March that helping Native American students would discriminate against white students.
—Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 2 May 2025
Acuña’s offensive about-face, in particular, could make the daily lineup decisions intriguing for Carlos Mendoza at the keystone.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Completely abandoning China would be a huge about-face for Starbucks, which entered the mainland market in 1999 with huge ambitions.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Noun
OpenAI’s about-face OpenAI is keeping its nonprofit heart — scrapping a controversial plan to convert control of its AI business to a for-profit structure.
—Catherine Baab, Quartz, 6 May 2025
The same office that helped craft the agreement to treat indigenous students equally made a stunning about-face and decided in March that helping Native American students would discriminate against white students.
—Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 2 May 2025
Acuña’s offensive about-face, in particular, could make the daily lineup decisions intriguing for Carlos Mendoza at the keystone.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Completely abandoning China would be a huge about-face for Starbucks, which entered the mainland market in 1999 with huge ambitions.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Recent Examples of Synonyms for about-face
Noun
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The president’s public pressure campaign on the Fed comes as the central bank faces an ironic, whiplash-inducing reversal.—
Brian Cheung,
NBC news,
8 May 2025
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Since Bloomberg first reported the reversal on Wednesday, Nvidia and AMD stocks have gained 4.4% and 3.4%, respectively.—
Niamh Rowe,
Quartz,
8 May 2025
Verb
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Eastern Time in the third round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which will revert back to the four-ball format.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
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After 25 years, ownership rights for Sinners will revert back to Coogler instead of resigning with Warner Bros. in perpetuity.—
Jordan Crucchiola,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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At the time, some parents withdrew their kids from their neighborhood schools and put them in private schools, charter schools homeschooling and other alternatives when their campuses closed and pivoted to remote learning.—
Kayla Jimenez,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
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Milliken, 68, has led large public university systems for more than 25 years, pivoting to the top roles in deep red and blue states alike.—
Jaweed Kaleem,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Britain is not the only country pressed into making a volte-face.—
London Business School,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
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The realities of Putin’s momentum, coupled with Washington’s volte-face, have led to a clear mood shift in Kyiv.—
Daryna Mayer,
NBC News,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The members of the Writers Guild of America have voted to uphold the expulsion of two writers accused of writing during the 2023 strike, but to rescind a public rebuke of a writer who made a joke on Facebook.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
10 May 2025
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Additionally, funding for the City Parks Foundation, which operates SummerStage, the annual public summer festival held in Central Park that features a lineup of Yiddish music, was rescinded.—
Jackie Hajdenberg,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2025
Verb
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Her one-shoulder design was perfectly tailored to curve to her body for sleek yet stylish sophistication.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
5 May 2025
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Jay Hook had a degree in engineering and was the rare pitcher who could explain how a curveball curves.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
Verb
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The victory was later overturned into a no-contest while Garcia was suspended for a year by the New York State Athletic Commission.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
3 May 2025
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The Blues made the right call in the second period, too, getting Morgan Barron’s highlight-reel goal overturned due to Mason Appleton being offside.—
Jeremy Rutherford,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
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The series finally bowed in 2019 without any of the principal cast leaving the show.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
12 May 2025
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After the match, Gunther bowed in respect to McAfee and Cole, then went about his business.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/about-face. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
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