recant

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

Synonyms

• abjure
• abnegate
• forswear
• foreswear
• renege
• renounce
• repeal
• repudiate
• retract
• take back
• unsay
• 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

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

Specifically, the defense accused the police of running a shoddy investigation and ignoring other potential suspects, including an ex-boyfriend who allegedly confessed to the killing during a panic attack, but later recanted. —Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2024

Over the decades, the woman recanted her testimony multiple times, revealing that she was coerced into lying by police detectives who promised her heroin. —Eugene Z. Bertrand, Hartford Courant, 1 July 2024

In May, Cardi tweeted that the LP will not be dropping, only to delete the post shortly after and recant her statement. —Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 2 July 2024

That data has since been found to be inaccurate, and the expert in 2021 evaluated Gonzales and has recanted his testimony, including the diagnosis, Gonzales’ appeal stated. —Dakin Andone, CNN, 25 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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