Definition of descantnext
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descant
Verb
  • Fortune’s efforts to speak directly with participants in Armstrong’s and Lev’s retreats were unsuccessful.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The filmmaker has spoken about his personal connection to the material, which is informed by his own experience of leaving the village for a better life, to send money home.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Some protesters nevertheless broke through police cordons, chanting slogans against Modi and election authorities before being detained.
    — Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Naturally, questions about Boone’s job status resurfaced after Wednesday night’s 4-3 loss in the Bronx, a game that ended with some chanting fans in the stands calling for his job.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Both Anthropic and OpenAI have been at the center of a fierce debate over AI safety, after a growing chorus of researchers warned that the companies' models could potentially cause catastrophic harm.
    — Ashley Capoot,Kate Rooney, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The Falcons entered Caesars Superdome to a chorus of boos from a crowd some 70,000 strong.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • However, with these new observations from JWST, scientists have unprecedented detailed views of the stars and protostars still forming amidst the gas and dust.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Police said the test provided additional evidence consistent with their observations.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Earhart lectured at the school before embarking on her final flight.
    — News Editor, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Driving around the region to lecture and guide tours, his travel costs have soared and led him to raise his prices.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Love usually handles the lead vocals on this song, but guitarist Brian Eichenberger sang it instead.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2026
  • In June, Grande also launched B-Line through her Brighter Days Ahead Foundation, in support of the below-the-line workers that make the industry sing.
    — Rob LeDonne, Billboard, 10 Oct. 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
  • Her husband, my grandfather, was not only a composer who wrote liturgical music, motets, symphonies, and string quartets but also a beloved music teacher who believed that music was as crucial to the development of the mind as math.
    — Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • With his remarks, Maher joins a list of celebrities including Florence Pugh, Mariska Hargitay, Hudson Williams, Josh Gad and more who have used their platforms to condemn the case in recent weeks.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Magen Dodge brought a gender discrimination complaint against former police Chief Robert White in 2019, alleging that the police chief made sexist remarks.
    — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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