as in inclination
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon
a steep cant of the riverbank at that turn in the river
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in deception
the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have
many accused the evangelist of cant, since his lavish lifestyle seemed to bear little resemblance to what he was preaching
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in terminology
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field
the colorful cant used by movie producers and publicity agents in Hollywood
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in leaning
running in a slanting direction
the cant buttresses on the interior walls are made of solid oak
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of cant
Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 14 Oct. 2024
If thieves’ cant—a language known only to criminals—was the Devil’s cabinet, bourgeois society couldn’t help but peep inside.
—JSTOR Daily, 27 June 2024
Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Verdier’s innovative design will use a canting keel as the support for one of the foils, with the other two contact points being a foil on the rudder and the two lateral foils.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 June 2025
The cockpit is canted towards the driver and the warm glow of the ambient lights bathe the cabin in red.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
There's hundreds of cant-miss deals on travel accessories this Prime Day, from supportive neck pillows and lightweight steamers to portable chargers and noise-canceling headphones.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2024
While Cahan’s novella canted toward Jake’s perspective, Rothstein’s play is an unabashedly feminist-forward retelling.
—Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
The top deck solar array is canted up 30 degrees to catch the low Sun angle near the south pole of the Moon.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 3 Oct. 2023
Sharply angled surfaces, called chines, run from the nose to the air intakes on either side of the lower fuselage; chines then run further back from those intakes to the wings and to twin tail fins, which are slightly canted from the vertical.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Jan. 2020
Noun
The Eras Tour is one of those cant-miss concerts that everyone will be talking about for years (and decades) to come, so don’t miss out on this incredible show.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 14 Oct. 2024
If thieves’ cant—a language known only to criminals—was the Devil’s cabinet, bourgeois society couldn’t help but peep inside.
—JSTOR Daily, 27 June 2024
Verb
Verdier’s most notable innovation is the use of a canting keel as the support for one of the foils, with the other two contact points being a foil on the rudder and, alternately, the two lateral foils.
—Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Verdier’s innovative design will use a canting keel as the support for one of the foils, with the other two contact points being a foil on the rudder and the two lateral foils.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 June 2025
The cockpit is canted towards the driver and the warm glow of the ambient lights bathe the cabin in red.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
There's hundreds of cant-miss deals on travel accessories this Prime Day, from supportive neck pillows and lightweight steamers to portable chargers and noise-canceling headphones.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2024
While Cahan’s novella canted toward Jake’s perspective, Rothstein’s play is an unabashedly feminist-forward retelling.
—Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
The top deck solar array is canted up 30 degrees to catch the low Sun angle near the south pole of the Moon.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 3 Oct. 2023
Sharply angled surfaces, called chines, run from the nose to the air intakes on either side of the lower fuselage; chines then run further back from those intakes to the wings and to twin tail fins, which are slightly canted from the vertical.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Jan. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cant
Verb
-
Lifting the controller and swinging it swiftly down hammers steel at Atsu’s family forge, gently pulling the trigger urges a campfire’s tendrils higher, while tilting it this way and that lowers mushrooms further into that fire for cooking.—
Alyssa Mercante,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
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The plan — which may face legal challenges — preserves H-1B visas as a last resort in fields where talent is scarce, but tilts the playing field toward American workers, answering critics in and out of MAGA who complain that companies are addicted to hiring cheaper foreign workers.—
Patricia Lopez,
Mercury News,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Else’s oblique ambient punctu ated with her Kate Bush and Heart.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Zach Tom, a star offensive lineman for Green Bay, went down just one play in with an oblique injury.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The vineyard is steeply sloped in spots, and Casanueva thinks the top part might be ideal for merlot.—
Laura Ness,
Mercury News,
28 Sep. 2025
-
However, beginning in mid-2023, when PSX finally stopped moving lower and began to rally, those same averages flipped from sloping down to sloping up.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
DeSantis signed a bill earlier this year that prevents local governments from blocking the development of a presidential library, aiming to block potential political opposition from liberal-leaning counties or municipalities.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
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Democrats and independents leaned toward compromise, while Republicans leaned toward standing on principle.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Inside, its sloped rooflines, expansive windows, and original stone fireplace made an immediate impression.—
Kristen Flanagan,
Architectural Digest,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Snipers set up on a very sloped roof on a suspect barricaded in a motel.—
Harper’s Magazine,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The other starter in the secondary is safety Dwayne McDougle (26), who may be angling for a single digit after his 35-yard fumble return for a TD.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Sep. 2025
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Here are some literary takeaways from all the indies angling for distribution deals this autumn.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cant. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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