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recant

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of recant

to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)

  • the Inquisition forced Galileo to recant his support of the Copernican observation that the earth revolves around the sun
Synonyms of recant

abjure, abnegate, forswear (also foreswear), renege, renounce, repeal, repudiate, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw
Words Related to recant

contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative

abandon, bolt, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender

controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute

back down, back off, backtrack

disallow, recall, revoke
Near Antonyms of recant

acknowledge, admit, affirm, assert, avow, claim, contend, declare, maintain, proclaim, profess, state, vouch, vow

back, confirm, defend, endorse (also indorse), espouse, maintain, support, uphold

accept, adopt, embrace
Antonyms of recant

adhere (to)

Synonym Discussion of recant

abjure, renounce, forswear, recant, retract mean to withdraw one's word or professed belief. abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath.
    • abjured the errors of his former faith
renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown.
    • renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting
forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal.
    • I cannot forswear my principles
recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught.
    • if they recant they will be spared
retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation.
    • the newspaper had to retract the story

Learn More about recant

  1. See words that rhyme with recant Dictionary: Definition of recant Spanish Central: Translation of recant Nglish: Translation of recant for Spanish speakers

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