recant

1 of 2

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

recantation

2 of 2

noun

re·​can·​ta·​tion ˌrē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən 

plural -s

: the act or an instance of recanting : public confession of error : retraction

recantations among those who had opposed him

—Waldemar Kaempffert

Synonyms of recant

Verb

• retract
• renounce
• 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

Verb

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

Verb

Jalonni, who was the primary suspect, allegedly convinced Raechyl to have their daughter recant the allegation. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026

But that witness also recanted when prosecutors showed him the video of what happened. —J.d. Miles, CBS News, 8 June 2026

Others have recanted and said police coerced them into implicating Washington and Simms. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026

However, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office ultimately dropped charges against Santana after the 17-year-old accuser recanted his statements to prosecutors, television interviewers and on social media, according to court records. —Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

recant + -ation

First Known Use

Verb

1535, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for recant

• decant
• descant
• eggplant
• enchant
• explant
• implant
• preplant
• replant
• supplant
• transplant
• ant
• aunt

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