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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Whaley, who spoke after Parks, expressed a similar sentiment.—
ALEX ROZIER Mississippi Today,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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But Haim read the script, spoke to the filmmaker and, like everyone else, was convinced to join the party.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The treatment rooms are large, with private bathrooms, and feature body rituals performed with essential oils, lavender and sweet orange, and an Ayurvedic soundtrack of Indian chanting capable of transporting you to another dimension like a mantra of pure well-being.—
Maddalena Fossati,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Dozens of students marched from their temporary classroom location at the University of Baltimore campus to Pearlstone Park, carrying signs and chanting along the way.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The singer's warm baritone finds its sweet spot on the song's soaring chorus, which would let Benito do some vocal flexing.—
Pamela Avila,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
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Belichick’s omission from this year’s class has drawn criticism from the football world, and Gronkowski joined that chorus in his interview.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Colorado is building up its system of 76 airports, investing $12 million for projects ranging from an observation area to safety upgrades.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
7 Feb. 2026
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From Weiss Field, the group of about 500 teens marched to Veterans Plaza just over a mile away near downtown Waukegan, where observations are held for Memorial Day, Veterans Day and other holidays.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sometimes the messages got feisty, with Epstein lecturing Karp over a fee.—
Tom Schoenberg,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The Masons were members of the Congregational Church where Codding lectured.—
Susan DeGrane,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Those artists largely sang their own songs, but certain lyrics and sounds took on a special resonance.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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Everyone here has taken a risk to come sing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 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
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Czerkowicz’s remark speaks to a familiar challenge in preservation work — the gap between sensing that something is architecturally unusual and understanding its full historical meaning.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Trump’s remarks have hurt Capital One stock, which has dropped 14% year to date.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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