recant

verb

re·​cant ri-ˈkant 

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

ˌrē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Synonyms

• abjure
• abnegate
• forswear
• foreswear
• renege
• renounce
• repeal
• repudiate
• retract
• take back
• unsay
• withdraw

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

After being being placed in confinement, Grant recanted and said the allegations had been mere rumors, according to the FDC report. —Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025

After Trump picked Hegseth, his mother recanted, saying her son was a changed man. —Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2025

Years later, the two main witnesses at his trial, also teenagers, recanted, saying police had pressured them into false stories. —Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024

My 20-year investigation revealed a pattern of questionable police and prosecutorial tactics, as well as two eyewitnesses who recanted and critical evidence his attorneys never saw before his trial. —Dan Slepian, NBC News, 30 Dec. 2024

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

Kids Definition

recant

verb

re·​cant ri-ˈkant 

: to take back publicly an opinion or belief

recantation

ˌrē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Legal Definition

recant

transitive verb

re·​cant ri-ˈkant 

: 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 

noun