cant 1 of 4

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

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cant

2 of 4

noun (2)

cant

3 of 4

adjective

cant

4 of 4

verb

as in to tilt
to set or cause to be at an angle carefully canted the ladder against the wall

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cant
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
  • Pam Bondi got to tilt her neck up to stay awake.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
  • However, Fred steals Velma's thunder when the scales are tilted in her favor to take back control.
    Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Standout additions included the Isidora pointy pumps with oblique block heels — especially striking in a bicolor patent version — and the brand’s first sneakers.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The Seahawks began the game without outside linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence (quad), then lost outside linebacker Derick Hall (oblique) after the first drive, while the Bucs started backups at right guard and right tackle.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Three-Bedroom With Landscaped Yard This three-bedroom, one-bathroom house on a sloping lot in North Berkeley was walkable to many amenities and the church, and had been upgraded throughout.
    Mark Kreidler, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • Most major news brands decline Pentagon censorship rules A dozen or more major media companies, including conservative-leaning newsrooms, have refused to sign a pledge to only report officially approved news from the Pentagon.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Those include the New York Times, AP, Reuters, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Politico, NewsNation and the Hill, along with conservative-leaning outlets like Newsmax and the Washington Examiner.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • The Monégasque angled it sharply across the court.
    James Hansen, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Other rank-and-file names are angling for one last career payday.
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cant. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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