descanting

verb

present participle of descant
1
as in speaking
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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2
as in chanting
to produce musical sounds with the voice the world-famous soprano descanted above the melody line

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for descanting
  1. speaking
  2. chanting
  3. lecturing
  4. talking
Verb
  • Their speaking engagements and social media campaigns have sustained public attention even as international media coverage has faded.
    — Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
  • That was evident in speaking with Indian exhibitors across the trade show.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of speaking
Verb
  • Syrians gathered around the court in Damascus, chanting, clapping and waving the Syrian flag as news of the sentences spread.
    — Kinda Makieh, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Outpouring of grief The sound of sobbing underlays chanting in dozens of dialects woven together in a single expression of sorrow for Imam Hussein and his companions and family, killed and taken captive in the defining event of Shia Islam.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of chanting
Verb
  • Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon criticized Spain for lecturing Israel on security while struggling to control its own border.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
  • Fauci stepped down from his NIAID post at the end of 2022 and segued to a lecturing job at Georgetown.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 July 2026
Definition of lecturing
Verb
  • The boy wasn’t talking, unlike other toddlers his age who are typically using simple words and phrases.
    — Jackie Mader, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2026
  • But Democratic primary voters aren’t talking to GOP strategists.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of talking
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Descanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descanting. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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