as in to retract
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
the Inquisition forced Galileo to recant his support of the Copernican observation that the earth revolves around the sun
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Recent Examples of recant
Moriarty said her office’s Conviction Integrity Unit was reviewing Hooper’s case when officials learned the state’s star trial witness had come forward in late July on her own to recant her testimony against Hooper and to confess to killing Prazniak and concealing her body.
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Jack Dura, Twin Cities, 12 Aug. 2025
The impact of a record-breaking, life-threatening heat dome on the U.S. coincided with the worst science denial in the 400 years since the Inquisition made the astronomer Galileo Galilei recant his belief that the Earth orbits the sun.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
However, Springsteen and Scott later recanted their confessions, claiming they were coerced during lengthy police interrogations.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
The case did not lead to charges after Blackman's 25-year-old girlfriend recanted her claims against the 53-year-old CEO, but Poulson reported on some troubling details of the public arrest report.
—Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for recant
Jack Dura, Twin Cities, 12 Aug. 2025
The impact of a record-breaking, life-threatening heat dome on the U.S. coincided with the worst science denial in the 400 years since the Inquisition made the astronomer Galileo Galilei recant his belief that the Earth orbits the sun.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
However, Springsteen and Scott later recanted their confessions, claiming they were coerced during lengthy police interrogations.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
The case did not lead to charges after Blackman's 25-year-old girlfriend recanted her claims against the 53-year-old CEO, but Poulson reported on some troubling details of the public arrest report.
—Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for recant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recant
Verb
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Once at the top or bottom, the Marswalker retracts the bracers and opens its doors again so that the S2 can be on its way while the Marswalker waits for the return trip.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
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Similarly, although an extensive Danish study showed no link between aluminum in vaccines and ASD, Kennedy demanded that the Annals of Internal Medicine, a prestigious medical journal, retract the study.—
Judy Stone,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The reaction to this was dynamic, which for some meant withdrawing from opportunities and for others contributed to burnout and decisions to leave their jobs altogether.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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But Russia's prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, signed a decree proposed by the Cabinet on August 25 to withdraw from the convention, and Putin has now submitted this to the Duma, which is likely to rubber stamp it.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Advertisement Lee also renounced any concept of gender roles, longing for full social equality regardless of gender or race.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
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On another, the Internal Revenue Code stands ready with its expatriation tax regime—potentially ensnaring not only those who voluntarily renounce their citizenship but also those whose citizenship is stripped away.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recant. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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