RECANT Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'recant' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of recant are abjure , forswear , renounce , and retract . While all these words mean "to withdraw one's word or professed belief," recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught. // if they recant they will be spared

Q: In what contexts can 'abjure' take the place of 'recant'?

While the synonyms abjure and recant are close in meaning, abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath. // abjured the errors of his former faith

Q: When would 'forswear' be a good substitute for 'recant'?

The words forswear and recant can be used in similar contexts, but forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal. // I cannot forswear my principles

Q: When is it sensible to use 'renounce' instead of 'recant'?

Although the words renounce and recant have much in common, renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown. // renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

Q: When is 'retract' a more appropriate choice than 'recant'?

While in some cases nearly identical to recant , retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation. // the newspaper had to retract the story

recant

verb

ri-ˈkant

Definition of recant next

as in to retract

to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) the Inquisition forced Galileo to recant his support of the Copernican observation that the earth revolves around the sun

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word recant different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of recant are abjure, forswear, renounce, and retract. While all these words mean "to withdraw one's word or professed belief," recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught.

if they recant they will be spared

In what contexts can abjure take the place of recant?

While the synonyms abjure and recant are close in meaning, abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath.

abjured the errors of his former faith

When would forswear be a good substitute for recant?

The words forswear and recant can be used in similar contexts, but forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal.

I cannot forswear my principles

When is it sensible to use renounce instead of recant?

Although the words renounce and recant have much in common, renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown.

renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

When is retract a more appropriate choice than recant?

While in some cases nearly identical to recant, retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation.

the newspaper had to retract the story

Examples Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of recant At the time, Twitter management called that an application of rules against sharing private information and hacked materials, but then-CEO Jack Dorsey quickly recanted it. —

Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 27 Sep. 2024 Because church doctrine held that Earth was the center of the universe, the Inquisition compelled the astronomer Galileo to recant his belief that our planet orbits the sun. —

Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Nov. 2024 Taking out that person would cause the second witness to recant his statement, the letter said. —

Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 25 Oct. 2024 Florida and Texas years ago flagged tens of thousands of voters that state officials said were noncitizens and then had to recant much of it. —

Amy Sherman, Austin American-Statesman, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for recant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recant

Verb

As bombastic as its specs indicate, the BMW experience transitions from power-hungry to sensory-pleasing with its top retracted.

James Raia, The Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2024
Those include improvements to article vetting and peer review, along with assurances that articles will be retracted if there's evidence of policy breaches.

Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 19 Dec. 2024