descant 1 of 2

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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2
as in to chant
to produce musical sounds with the voice the world-famous soprano descanted above the melody line

Synonyms & Similar Words

descant

2 of 2

noun

variants also discant

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of descant
Verb
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 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 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 Birds provided an intermittent descant to the insect buzz and the drone of a distant tractor. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 2 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 This is a dark and defensive descant to a more substantial and necessary conversation about whiteness in America. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 3 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descant
Verb
  • Zoltan Istvan writes and speaks on transhumanism, artificial intelligence, and the future.
    Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
  • But six months is still a long time to remember who everybody is on a show with dozens of speaking roles, most of them played by actors in identical jumpsuits, and/or wearing masks.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Similar to Wednesday’s match in the same stadium against Manchester City, the Wydad supporters chanted loudly, banged their drums, and even threw a few flares onto the field, not far from goalkeeper Benabid (see below) following Lorch’s goal in the 25th minute.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 22 June 2025
  • The world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, which chants ‘Death to America,’ simply could not be allowed the opportunity to obtain and use nuclear weapons.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • Parton joins in on the chorus of the power ballad, and takes the lead on the second verse.
    Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 20 June 2025
  • Rebirth in this thrillingly massive symphony for a massive orchestra and chorus, along with soprano and mezzo-soprano soloists, was writ exceedingly large, transparent and loud.
    Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • The 2019 failure of a military observation satellite for the United Arab Emirates, called the Vega rocket, led to $411 million in claims — the largest such loss in history, Reuters reported.
    Tom Brown, Space.com, 28 June 2025
  • Host quarterly or monthly sessions where employees across roles share their observations, stories, and hypotheses about the market.
    Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Nonetheless, the missing performers were lectured by Richard Grenell, Trump’s new president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts—a man with, inevitably, no experience in any of them—that performers must perform for people of all political parties.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
  • At the Cooper Union in New York in November, Sumner again lectured on Adams’s theory, while a group of Republicans and radical abolitionists sat behind his podium on the stage.
    Zaakir Tameez June 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • Attendees also stand to sing the national anthem and recognize retired and active military members, and Gold Star families who’ve lost someone in service to their country.
    Lisa Meyers McClintick, USA Today, 21 June 2025
  • Gil Sandler told his listeners about Ethel Ennis, a female singer who missed the big time by staying in Baltimore, and who sang often at which club: a.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2025
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
  • 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
  • More Read more: Eagles Star Reflects on Drastic Change in His Offseason Approach During a recent interview with CBS, Sanders sent a message to Barkley regarding his retirement remarks.
    Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
  • From activist Raquel Willis’ opening remarks to poems recited in honor of the late literary giant Nikki Giovanni, along with talks from leading voices such as Professor Imani Perry and Kiese Laymon, to cultural critic Roxanne Gay, the festival was filled with insight, reverence and celebration.
    Essence, Essence, 19 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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