recant

[ ri-kant ]

/ rɪˈkænt /

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See synonyms for recant on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to withdraw or disavow (a statement, opinion, etc.), especially formally; retract.

verb (used without object)

to withdraw or disavow a statement, opinion, etc., especially formally.

OTHER WORDS FOR recant

1 revoke, recall, rescind, deny.

See synonyms for recant on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of recant

1525–35; <Latin recantāre to sing back, sing again, equivalent to re-re- + cantāre, frequentative of canere to sing; cf. chant

OTHER WORDS FROM recant

re·can·ta·tion

[ree-kan-tey-shuhn], /ˌri kænˈteɪ ʃən/, nounre·cant·er, nounre·cant·ing·ly, adverbun·re·cant·ed, adjective

un·re·cant·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH recant

recant , recount

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use recant in a sentence

The Postal Service inspector general’s office informed members of Congress in a briefing on Tuesday that Hopkins had recanted his allegations, according to a congressional aide.
Postal worker recanted allegations of ballot tampering, officials say|Shawn Boburg, Jacob Bogage|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
Then, after the headlines came out, the sources recanted, and they have since been convicted (in Syrian courts) of perjury.
Digital Doublethink: Playing Truth or Dare with Putin, Assad and ISIS|Christopher Dickey, Anna Nemtsova|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, when asked to give the verdict in public by the presiding judge, one voter recanted.
Could Chris McDaniel Get A Do-Over In The Mississippi Senate Race?|Ben Jacobs|July 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was the second time he recanted on campaign-finance reforms.
‘Oops,’ First Debate, ‘47 Percent’ & More 2012 Election Turning Points|Mark McKinnon|November 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The activists recanted their denunciation of Kashua on its website, but Kashua said few Palestinian papers printed a correction.
Sayed Kashua’s Strained Relationship With Israel|Eric Herschthal|May 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Nearly 10 years after her accusation of rape sent her father to prison, Casandra Kennedy recanted.
Casandra Kennedy Recants Rape Charge Against Her Father, Freed After 9 Years|Winston Ross|April 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
One of them recanted, and thereby saved her life; the other remained firm, and perished at the stake.
The Mysteries of All Nations|James Grant
He recanted all that he had said in the book, but it was too late; the mischief had been done and the evil work has continued.
The Jesuits, 1534-1921|Thomas J. Campbell
There is a very simple test of it,he has never recanted a single article of his Liberal progress, never gone back a single step.
The Contemporary Review, Volume 36, November 1879|Various
No one was to have dealings with the author until he recanted his error.
History of the Jews, Vol. V (of 6)|Heinrich Graetz
Nevertheless, the time came when the scorner recanted his renunciation.
Lochinvar|S. R. Crockett

British Dictionary definitions for recant

recant

/ (rɪˈkænt) /

verb

to repudiate or withdraw (a former belief or statement), esp formally in public

Derived forms of recant

recantation (ˌriːkænˈteɪʃən), nounrecanter, noun

Word Origin for recant

C16: from Latin recantāre to sing again, from re- + cantāre to sing; see chant

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

recant

OTHER WORDS FOR recant

Origin of recant

OTHER WORDS FROM recant

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH recant

Words related to recant

How to use recant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for recant

Derived forms of recant

Word Origin for recant