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
Relevance
variants
also discant
1
as in chorus
Related Words
2
as in observation
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descant
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
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
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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
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The legendary filmmaker promised this on Thursday night in Los Angeles, speaking at an intimate and high-powered event where Universal Pictures unveiled a grand new screening room named for the director.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
27 June 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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The product was fresh, the money real, and every A&R man from New York to Memphis knew the formula: Find a pretty face, slap a catchy chorus behind it, and watch the allowances roll in.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2025
-
In a video shared to Instagram earlier this week that has quickly gained viral attention, Louise walks out of the shelter to a chorus of applause from staff who gathered at the front to see her off.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Noun
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The observation tower crowning Villa Beatrice offers the freshest breezes, the most exclusive dining table in the region, and a gobsmacking 360-degree view of the area’s natural beauty — and its glitziest homes and harbors.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
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
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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
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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
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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
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The attendees — largely 20- or early 30-somethings from all over the U.S. and Canada — dance and sing along, eyes fixed on the Schnackys and their crew.—
Avery Stone,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2025
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
-
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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The intense exchange between Kemp, 48, and Rock, 25, took place early Tuesday (July 1) morning, with Rock allegedly calling the social media personality to seemingly address Kemp’s remarks regarding her behavior and parenting of her son with rapper Blueface, who is currently incarcerated.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
1 July 2025
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The regulatory proposal was made even more clear in remarks from the Fed's new vice chair for supervision, Michelle Bowman.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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