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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variants
also discant
1
as in chorus
Related Words
2
as in observation
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of descant
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descant
Verb
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Actions speak louder than words, though, and Breslow’s actions last offseason put the Red Sox in a better spot to contend.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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In the series’ final chapters, Gein is also shown speaking to Jorgensen, in a fantastical conversation, via ham radio while in prison.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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A day before a shooter killed four people and set fire to a church in Michigan, students at a football game in Colorado chanted vulgar anti-Mormon slurs against the same religious organization.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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Protesters outside the facility Friday morning held signs and chanted.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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During the past decade, Tranter has established himself as one of the music industry’s most reliable hitmakers, thanks to his clever, boisterous lyricism and dramatic, over-the-top choruses and hooks.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
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And that’s really the chorus of The Fighter.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The picture created is the result of combining observations taken roughly 20 years apart.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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These observations clearly suggest that AI was indeed used to create these videos.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Clarke and his business partner sold photographs and films, wrote and lectured about their adventures, and began treasure hunting.—
Danny Robb,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Sep. 2025
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Since exiting Dries Van Noten a few years ago, Scallon has been working as an independent consultant and mentor in fashion communications strategy, also lecturing occasionally and sharing his views about creative content on podcasts.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Country music star Tanya Tucker sang at his bedside.—
Keith Sharon,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Advertisement Before Ok-seon can fire the missiles, Jun-sang moves to arrest her.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 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
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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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During her remarks, White-Cain gave the pilot program high marks.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Oct. 2025
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Dawkins made that remark in response to a question about Sarr’s overall intensity.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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