descants 1 of 2

Definition of descantsnext
present tense third-person singular of descant
1
as in lectures
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 chants
to produce musical sounds with the voice the world-famous soprano descanted above the melody line

Synonyms & Similar Words

descants

2 of 2

noun

variants also discants
plural of descant

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for descants
Verb
  • With me, my wife lectures me more than my children.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The van’s speakers played a high-volume mashup of construction sounds, Jordan Peterson lectures, Marine Corps drills, and mumbling voices.
    Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • As the crowd chants largely out of sight, heavy automatic gunfire can be heard for 15 uninterrupted seconds.
    Marin Scott, NBC news, 14 Jan. 2026
  • The Barmy Army chants restart as the England players partly walk over to applaud them.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Lower-level commanders have the authority to conduct certain types of operations without approval from central command, if contact with Tehran is disrupted or lost–an operational guideline stemming from Iran’s observations of how the US attacked Iraq.
    Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen prepare for their journey around the far side of the moon by configuring their camera equipment shortly before beginning their lunar flyby observations.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The older son, Dustin, barely speaks, and baby James is wearing a grocery bag for a diaper.
    Francine Prose, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
  • That speaks to the state of fuel-cell infrastructure in the country.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Best Roman Shades Contributor Lila Allen sings the brand’s praises for the custom curtain offerings available, as well.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The caged bird sings with a fearful trillof things unknown but longed for stilland his tune is heard on the distant hillfor the caged bird sings of freedom.
    Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Three current council members, including Hillary Shields, congratulated Lopez in brief remarks at his party.
    Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
  • West did apologize to various religious leaders for his past remarks, and in a January interview with Vanity Fair, cited years of mental health challenges as a source of his behavior.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Emma Straub talks to Maria Sherman about her original 1990 New Kids on the Block fanny pack.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Rubio met separately with Rutte on Wednesday morning at the State Department ahead of the White House talks.
    Michelle L. Price, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Her sound blends sleek electropop and dance-pop with R&B influences, anchored by a knack for radio-ready choruses.
    Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • But Harriet Tubman hasn’t written verses or choruses for her, instead opting for a whirlpool of slushy guitar and sticky rhythms that swirls around Muldrow’s impressionistic declarations and assertive meditations.
    Reed Jackson, SPIN, 30 Mar. 2026
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

“Descants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descants. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.

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