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
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
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
-
Much of his speech and remarks from other officials speaking at the convention Friday focused on party unity after a bruising primary season, where Democrats are hoping to capitalize on what could be a vulnerable year for Republicans.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 June 2026
-
OpenAI Ceo Sam Altman speaks to journalists after meeting with US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on June 3, 2026.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
There was a strong Polish presence in the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd Saturday, and when Chwalinska was introduced, fans held aloft red-and-white Polish flags and chanted her name.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
-
In Section 535, no one was chanting about affordability.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Fried’s statement to the Herald comes amid warnings from a growing chorus of political leaders that Wasserman Schultz’s decision — and the state party’s silence about it — could have ripple effects across the ballot in November.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
-
This polyphonic novel already has a chorus, thanks to its humdinger cast of ensemble characters.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
But their inner lives don’t hold shape the way her little girls (and boys) do, with their uncanny dialogue and idiosyncratic observations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
Barr notes that the share of large banks rated as well-managed under the new, more permissive framework doubled from the end of 2024 to recent observations — not because banks got better, but because the grading curve was relaxed.—
Mayra Rodriguez Valladares,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
In September 1975, Applewhite visited a small town in Oregon to lecture its residents about how and why UFOs were visiting Earth.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
8 June 2026
-
Universities lecture athletes about fiscal responsibility while writing eight-figure checks for coaches not to work.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2026
Verb
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Recorded throughout the book tour for On Morrison—Serpell’s electrifying, critical examination of Morrison’s writing—each episode welcomes listeners into rooms full of readers and discussions of how Morrison made her words sing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Women sang, debated and pitched business ideas ranging from poultry farming to detergent-making.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
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
-
Much of his speech and remarks from other officials speaking at the convention Friday focused on party unity after a bruising primary season, where Democrats are hoping to capitalize on what could be a vulnerable year for Republicans.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 June 2026
-
Among a series of statements in Friday’s news release lauding Myung Jin Kim’s capture was a remark from Patrick Grandy, assistant director in charge of the FBI Los Angeles field office.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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