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
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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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Teams of attorneys for the defendants were each given 15 minutes to speak Wednesday.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 13,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2026
-
If emotions surge, pause to write thoughts before speaking, then return with a softer tone so both sides feel heard and respected.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Iranians who were chanting against the supreme leader are now watching foreign bombs fall on their cities.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
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The attendance figure broke a club record for the Paradise, and part of that came from a sizable AC Boise section of fans who chanted and cheered throughout the game.—
Amaia Gavica,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There’s a chorus of fans wishing Sullivan chose Door A, the one with no quarterback behind it.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
-
That passion echoes throughout the halls, a chorus of cultural touchstones.—
Adam Reiss,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The stellar body that spawned the remnant lingers on as a fast-spinning neutron star, or pulsar, which was detected in observations made by NASA's Chandra Space Telescope back in 2015.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Mercury, Mars and Saturn are too close to the sun for easy observation.—
Charles Seabrook,
AJC.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cluelessly, the Biden administration lectured Israel about its military response.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Therefore, now is not the time to be lecturing our partners and allies.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fellow exerciser ignores the letter writer’s request for consideration and continues to loudly sing and yell.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Washington Post,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The first is rewriting public-domain hymns with community members to sing at protests.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
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Thursday's remarks by Iran's new supreme leader were absolutely newsworthy and legitimate for CNN to air them, said Jane Ferguson, a veteran international correspondent and founder of the journalism platform Noosphere.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
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The luncheon began with welcome remarks from THR editor-in-Chief Maer Roshan, followed by Brett Fahlgren, vp brand marketing and communications for the luxury jeweler.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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