1
as in to speak
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject
an English professor who loves to descant on his beloved Shakespeare
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
variants
also discant
1
as in chorus
Related Words
2
as in observation
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of descant
Jesse Green, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
For seven decades, Katz has been providing a visual descant to the work of the New York School of poets, many of whom were his friends.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2022
The Hynde storyline, which includes her messing around with songs on an acoustic guitar, runs as a kind of descant against the personal and professional noise of the Pistols.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2022
Then comes a longer descant of mixed-up work, including bad versions of pop tunes and ambitious attempts at pop epics.
—Adam Gopni, The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2021
Noun
Bart, too idiosyncratic merely to copy the idiosyncrasies of the movie’s Christopher Lloyd, instead adds a descant of commentary atop them, sometimes seeming to extemporize a different show entirely.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
For seven decades, Katz has been providing a visual descant to the work of the New York School of poets, many of whom were his friends.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2022
The Hynde storyline, which includes her messing around with songs on an acoustic guitar, runs as a kind of descant against the personal and professional noise of the Pistols.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2022
Then comes a longer descant of mixed-up work, including bad versions of pop tunes and ambitious attempts at pop epics.
—Adam Gopni, The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descant
Verb
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Chelsea strongly believe that Gittens can be a success at the club, and Rosenior has spoken about him positively.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
For decades, the Grimmer family never spoke about Cheryl.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ajax, in Amsterdam, has acquired a similar reputation, prompting rival fans to chant the most offensive antisemitic slurs imaginable, often invoking gas.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
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That changed a bit on a sunny Saturday in San Francisco, the contest assuming a smidgen of campaign heat — chanting crowds, sign-waving supporters, call-and-response from the audience — as the state party held its annual convention in this bluest of cities.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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With every passing year, the springtime chorus grows quieter.—
Sarah Kaplan,
Washington Post,
26 Feb. 2026
-
During a pep rally, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb walked into the gymnasium to a chorus of cheer from the crowd.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The observations provide the most detailed picture yet of where the planet’s auroras form and how energy moves through its atmosphere.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
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But observations from the forthcoming Artemis II could inform the selection of future landing sites.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That includes lecturing, building curriculum, pursuing research and speaking about university policy.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Vance’s speech got a cool reception from European leaders who said they felt lectured.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As a girl, Sabrina Langlois loved to sing but suffered from terrible stage fright.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Following the 2024 total solar eclipse, American birds sang as if witnessing a new dawn.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Latin polyphony and motets are being sung at the Offertory and during the distribution of Holy Communion.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2025
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The service and concert will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the church, 815 S. Washington St. Castle Singers are vocalists who perform a variety of chamber repertoire, varying from Renaissance madrigals and motets to contemporary pop and vocal jazz.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to Kelker-Kelly for comment on Rinna's remarks.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Feb. 2026
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After his remarks, board members quickly exited the room in silence.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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