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
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
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
Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
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
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
Alex stood across the living room, his head canted down and his eyes fixated on a carousel of TikTok videos emanating from his mother’s cellphone.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
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
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
-
Meanwhile, Democrats tilted five seats their way in California.—
NPR,
NPR,
6 Nov. 2025
-
It was also tilted with respect to the plane of the galaxy.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Among those players were outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen (originally sidelined with an ankle), center Cade Mays (ankle) and left guard Damien Lewis (oblique).—
Alex Zietlow
November 5,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Nov. 2025
-
He was released after the trade deadline but re-signed a minor league deal and was added to the postseason roster after Elias Díaz’s oblique injury.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
That’s especially true of the Princeton museum, a jangling grid of gray concrete boxes set into the sloping campus.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Out back, the car’s roofline sloped towards the tail at a shallower angle than ever, almost giving the big car a fastback look.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Their test setup involved a ramp containing sand to simulate sloping dunes on Mars.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Last year, 240,100 people in Arkansas received SNAP benefits, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
5 Nov. 2025
-
In the lead-up to the election, even many of my liberal patients, people who typically lean left and value inclusion and growth, expressed deep concern about what a Mamdani win would mean.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 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
-
From here Cathedral Rock Trail steepens dramatically, shinnying up rock faces, angling from ledge to ledge.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
When patterns show which angles hold attention and which intros lose readers early, teams can refine headlines, add context boxes, and improve internal links so coverage feels useful and easy to follow.—
Malana VanTyler,
Ascend Agency,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cant. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share