Turnabout is fair play.
Source: tatoeba (3468290)
Turnabout
Synonyms for "turnabout" (165 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (33)
Noun(5 words)
about faceabout-faceabout-turnaccommodationadaptationadjustmentafterthoughtafterthoughtsalterationameliorationapostasyapostateback trackback trailbackingbacking offbacking outbacking upbacksliderbacksliding
Show 8 more words
Strong matches (50)
changeablenesscollaborationistcollaboratorconstructive changecontinuityconversionconvertcowarddefectiondefectordegenerationdegenerative changedeserterdeteriorationdeviationdifferencediscontinuitydisenchantmentdivergencediversification
Show 23 more words
diversiondiversityfifth columnistfittingflipflip flopflip-flopgradual changeimprovementinversionlapsemature judgmentmeliorationmitigationmodificationmodulationmugwumpoverthrowproselytequalificationquislingquitterradical change
Related words (82)
ratre creationre-creationrealignmentrecidivationrecidivismrecidivistreclamationreconversionrecreantredesignreformreformationregressregressionrehabilitationreinstatementrelapseremakingrenegade
Show 56 more words
renegadorenegaterenewalreshapingrestitutionrestorationrestructuringretrocessionretrogradationretrogressionretroversionreturnreturningreversalreversereversingreversionreversionistrevertingrevivalrevivificationrevolutionrevulsionright-aboutright-about-facerunagateschismaticsecedersecessionistsecond thoughtsseparatistshiftslipping backstrikebreakersudden changeswingaroundswitchtergiversanttergiversatingtergiversationtergiversatortotal changetraitortransitionturnturnaroundturncoatturningturntailupheavalvariationvarietyviolent changevolte facevolte-faceworsening
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: reversal, turnaround, about face, about-face, about-face.
- Sentence evidence is available for turnabout, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "turnabout".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "turnabout"
Keep "turnabout" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "turnabout" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "turnabout", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "turnabout" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entrieschangechange of directiondecidingdecision makingliterary devicemotionnarrative devicereorientationstory elementtransformation
More specific
10 entriesabout-faceattitude shiftdramatic reversalopinion changepivotplot twistpolicy reversalstance reversalturn of eventsu-turn
Collocations
6 entriesInflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesSample sentences
3 total sentences available.
It is a fine dance, fast and intricate, with many turnabouts. The women's long black hair swirls as they turn; […]
Source: wiktionary
Any idea of how many transsexuals there are in America? About 10,000, some 1500 of whom have changed their sex by surgery. The male-to-female turnabout costs $3000-$5000, while the female-to-male process runs up to $12,000.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "turnabout"?
Closest matches include reversal, turnaround, about face, about-face, about-face.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "turnabout"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.