recant

re·cant

verb \ri-ˈkant\

Definition 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

— re·can·ta·tion \ˌrē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən\ noun

Examples of RECANT

1. Church officials asked the minister to recant.
2. Witnesses threatened to recant their testimony when the court released their names to the paper.

Origin of RECANT

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

First Known Use: 1535

Related to RECANT

Synonyms

abnegate, forswear (also foreswear), abjure, renege, renounce, repeal, repudiate, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw

Antonyms

adhere (to)

Related Words

contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative; abandon, bolt, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender; controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute; back down, back off, backtrack; disallow, recall, revoke

Near Antonyms

acknowledge, admit, affirm, assert, avow, claim, contend, declare, maintain, proclaim, profess, state, vouch, vow; back, confirm, defend, endorse (also indorse), espouse, maintain, support, uphold; accept, adopt, embrace

See Synonym Discussion at abjure

Rhymes with RECANT

aslant, bacchant, bacchante, bezant, courante, decant, descant, displant, eggplant, enceinte, enchant, explant, extant, face-plant, fire ant, formant, gallant, Gallant, gas plant, grandaunt, houseplant, ice plant, implant, incant, jade plant, land grant, leadplant, levant, Levant, musk plant, pieplant, pissant, plainchant, pourpoint, preplant, red ant, replant, savant, seed plant, snow plant, supplant, transplant, white ant