Definition of recant
: to make an open confession of error
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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 of recant from the Web
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Ruby Bates, the second accuser, later recanted her testimony about the rape and people began to believe, as Horton had, that the young men were innocent.
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The key witness who heard Mr. Bisram give the order to kill Mr. Narinedatt recanted.
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Victims could recant and leave prosecutors scrambling – not wanting to violate victims' rights but still wanting to pursue the case.
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Three women who made the prostitution allegations later recanted and said they were paid to level the charges.
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From George Whitmore’s recanting statement: Joe DiPrima hectored him.
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But the case unraveled last year after all three eyewitnesses — two of whom were 12 years old at the time — recanted their testimony, saying Chicago police detectives had pressured them into identifying McIntosh as the shooter.
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In 1521, at the Diet of Worms—an assembly called to discuss Luther’s teachings presided over by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V—Luther was asked to recant his heretical view that men and women are saved by the grace of God alone.
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Charges were not pressed in that case after the woman recanted in a video recording.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'recant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of recant
recant Synonyms
Synonyms
abjure, forswear (also foreswear), renege, renounce, repeal, repudiate, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw;
Antonyms
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;
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;
Synonym Discussion of 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.
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- abjured the errors of his former faith
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- renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting
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- I cannot forswear my principles
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- if they recant they will be spared
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- the newspaper had to retract the story
RECANT Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of recant for English Language Learners
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: to publicly say that you no longer have an opinion or belief that you once had
Law Dictionary
legal Definition of recant
: to renounce or withdraw (prior statements or testimony)
- surprised the prosecution by recanting statements made earlier to the police
: to renounce or withdraw prior statements or testimony
Learn More about recant
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See words that rhyme with recant Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for recant Spanish Central: Translation of recant Nglish: Translation of recant for Spanish speakers
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