recant

verb

re·​cant ri-ˈkant How to pronounce recant (audio)
recanted; recanting; recants

transitive verb

1
: to withdraw or repudiate (a statement or belief) formally and publicly : renounce
2
: revoke

intransitive verb

: to make an open confession of error
recantation noun
Choose the Right Synonym for recant

abjure, renounce, forswear, recant, retract mean to withdraw one's word or professed belief.

abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath.

abjured the errors of his former faith

renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown.

renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal.

I cannot forswear my principles

recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught.

if they recant they will be spared

retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation.

the newspaper had to retract the story

Examples of recant in a Sentence

Church officials asked the minister to recant. Witnesses threatened to recant their testimony when the court released their names to the paper.
Recent Examples on the Web In the days after her emailed comments regarding Trump, Ransome sent a follow-up email on Oct. 23, 2016, recanting her statements entirely. Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2024 While the murder charge was eventually dropped (the victim recanted), Harris spent 30 years behind bars for the drug charge before Trump pardoned him and 73 others. Shania Russell, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2024 Ransome recanted the allegations in a follow-up email to the columnist. Adam Reiss, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2024 Variety originally reported that the news was accurate, but later recanted that confirmation. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2024 The group member later recanted, saying his confession came as a result of an exorcism. Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2024 But the suspect later recanted his statement, accusing Mexican police of torture, per the Statesman. Christina Coulter, Fox News, 6 Dec. 2023 In 2022, the firm recanted the documents, citing New York Attorney General Letitia James' fraud investigation. Katrina Kaufman, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2023 Five witnesses have since recanted their testimonies in the drug case against de Lima in the past two years, lending credibility to her defense. Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin recantare, from re- + cantare to sing — more at chant

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of recant was in 1535

Dictionary Entries Near recant

Cite this Entry

“Recant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recant. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

recant

verb
re·​cant ri-ˈkant How to pronounce recant (audio)
: to take back publicly an opinion or belief
recantation noun

Legal Definition

recant

transitive verb
re·​cant ri-ˈkant How to pronounce recant (audio)
: to renounce or withdraw (prior statements or testimony)
surprised the prosecution by recanting statements made earlier to the police

intransitive verb

: to renounce or withdraw prior statements or testimony
recantation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on recant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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