recant

Synonym Chooser

How is the word recant different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of recant are abjure, forswear, renounce, and retract. While all these words mean "to withdraw one's word or professed belief," recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught.

if they recant they will be spared

In what contexts can abjure take the place of recant?

While the synonyms abjure and recant are close in meaning, abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath.

abjured the errors of his former faith

When would forswear be a good substitute for recant?

The words forswear and recant can be used in similar contexts, but forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal.

I cannot forswear my principles

When is it sensible to use renounce instead of recant?

Although the words renounce and recant have much in common, renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown.

renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

When is retract a more appropriate choice than recant?

While in some cases nearly identical to recant, retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation.

the newspaper had to retract the story

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 recant Galileo Galilei, who, in 1632, published a book supporting the Copernican theory that the Earth revolves around the sun, was accused of heresy, obliged to recant, and condemned to house arrest. Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 28 July 2025 Ray later tried to recant his confession, claiming he was set up by a man named Raoul. Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 22 July 2025 The juvenile later recanted his confession and named Clarke as the shooter, court records show. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2025 Staff said there had been other complaints about Garner that were later recanted. Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for recant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recant
Verb
  • Once at the top or bottom, the Marswalker retracts the bracers and opens its doors again so that the S2 can be on its way while the Marswalker waits for the return trip.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Similarly, although an extensive Danish study showed no link between aluminum in vaccines and ASD, Kennedy demanded that the Annals of Internal Medicine, a prestigious medical journal, retract the study.
    Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Details of Russia’s offer on Donetsk are not public, but Russia is reportedly offering to freeze the frontline positions at Zhaporzhzhia and Kherson, and withdraw from territory in Sumy, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, in exchange for Ukraine handing over the rest of the Donbas.
    Laura Kelly, The Hill, 28 Aug. 2025
  • After reading West’s Forbes article, the husband and wife withdrew from their retirement fund, used a portion of their savings, and borrowed money from their adult son to invest $150,000 in a home West was flipping in August 2010.
    Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Eventually, however, Lowell’s ideas were discredited—Schiaparelli, once an ally, renounced them—and the world moved on.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.
    Karen Lema, Reuters, 28 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Recant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recant. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on recant

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