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
  • So far, the efforts have not gone far enough to satisfy the player group, according to people briefed on the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak freely about a sensitive matter.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Right before dinner, with his furry ears on, Luke asks to speak to the captain.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • There are also videos of the Argentine team chanting in the dressing room.
    Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 18 July 2026
  • Happy Gilmore is another obvious inspiration (even without the Netflix of it all) whenever Lonnie throws his clubs, talks to his ball, and calls on fans to chant his name before taking a swing.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • When not excavating and eating Rosenthal’s bread and cheese, the men rehearse for a musical comedy performance featuring a chorus line of men in drag.
    Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026
  • Porter Police Chief Dan Dickey, supported by the Porter Town Council, joined the chorus.
    Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • According to Artem, the Russian position consisted of soldiers armed with small arms and radios and supported by a network of observation posts monitoring the surrounding approaches.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Accompanied by firsthand reflections from the photographers, these images offer a glimpse of how local communities gathered to share in the Cup, as well as the observations that stayed with the photographers who documented it.
    Meredith Nierman, NPR, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • He was internationally known as an expert on the work of William Faulkner, teaching and lecturing around the world on the Nobel Prize winner.
    Rebecca McCarthy, AJC.com, 13 July 2026
  • Parsipur taught at Brown University in the early 2000s and lectured internationally throughout the ensuing decades.
    News Desk, Artforum, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • Knowing when to stand, when to sing and when to boo the visiting team is part of what makes a home game feel like home.
    Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
  • Placing a special focus on R&B and new music discovery, Grice often weaves games into his variety show; a particularly viral bit asks guests to sing in a game of word association.
    Rachel Brodsky, Time, 14 July 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
  • 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
  • Sankey peppered his opening remarks with the league’s stance on Congressional involvement in college football, and his belief that the NIL field is in desperate need of transparency.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Investors will focus closely on ECB President Christine Lagarde’s remarks on energy prices, the inflation outlook and the future path of monetary policy.
    , CNBC, 20 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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