recant

verb

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

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
ˌrē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce recant (audio)
noun

Synonyms of recant

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Springsteen and Scott confessed during police questioning but recanted before trial, saying investigators pressured them into giving false statements. — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Four friends testified against him, then recanted their testimony. — Sea Stachura, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026 The original trial judge agreed, several jurors recanted their guilty verdict, and Texas politicians rallied to her defense. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 At his 2005 trial, those witnesses all recanted, saying police had pressured them to accuse O’Neal. — Samantha Melamed, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recant

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

Rhymes for recant

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Browse Nearby Words

recanalization
recant
recantation
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Cite this Entry

“Recant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recant. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

recant

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