as in retracted
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as in renounced
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
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Recent Examples of recanted
Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Citing such evidence, The New York Times editorial board recently recanted some of its earlier support for legalization.
—William Garriott, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
Police said initially there was a report of shots fired, but a minor recanted that statement to officers.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Attorney Warren Lupel, who represented Gary Dotson, a Chicago-area man who went to prison after being convicted of rape and kidnapping but was freed after the woman who accused him of those crimes recanted her testimony, has died.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
The first, who had lived in his Washington townhouse, later recanted her accusations.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
One has since recanted An Indianapolis detective said in court documents that a tipster told police Turner robbed the bank.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 26 Jan. 2026
Walker signed a confession but almost immediately recanted.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Walker later recanted his confession, according to the Innocence Project.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The two who confessed – and later recanted – were convicted of capital murder and remained in prison until DNA evidence proving their innocence led to their release in 2009, prosecutors said.
—Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
On the night he was arrested, Martinez confessed to shaking Heather and banging her head against a crib, but later recanted that confession.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Citing such evidence, The New York Times editorial board recently recanted some of its earlier support for legalization.
—William Garriott, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
Police said initially there was a report of shots fired, but a minor recanted that statement to officers.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Attorney Warren Lupel, who represented Gary Dotson, a Chicago-area man who went to prison after being convicted of rape and kidnapping but was freed after the woman who accused him of those crimes recanted her testimony, has died.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
The first, who had lived in his Washington townhouse, later recanted her accusations.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
One has since recanted An Indianapolis detective said in court documents that a tipster told police Turner robbed the bank.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 26 Jan. 2026
Walker signed a confession but almost immediately recanted.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Walker later recanted his confession, according to the Innocence Project.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recanted
Adjective
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In a demo at CES 2026, Bluetooth SIG marketing VP Dave Hollander set an unlock distance on a phone across the room from a Bauer smart lock—then walked within 2 feet of the lock, leading its deadbolt to whir into the retracted position.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
19 Mar. 2026
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The three presenters on the hepatitis B vaccine were not vaccine scientists, and two had authored a retracted paper about autism.—
Dr. Debra Houry,
Time,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images Japan renounced war under Article 9 of its post-World War II pacifist constitution.—
Sam Meredith,Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
President Ahmed al-Sharaa is a one-time al-Qaeda commander who renounced the ideology before taking power.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hyo Joo Kim withdrew before the round after opening with a 68.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Recently, a developer withdrew a request to rezone a property for a potential data center campus due to a lack of support from Yorkville’s City Council, and the city’s mayor has since indicated future projects are unlikely to secure city approval going forward.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The withheld funding supports election monitoring, independent media and other pro-democracy programs abroad.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The same City who denied Arsenal title glory in 2023 and 2024.—
Nnamdi Onyeagwara,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Jordan was then interviewed by a private investigator hired by Jackson’s attorneys, and denied being molested by the singer.—
Amelia McDonell-Parry,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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General Manager Ken Holland hinted at potentially being done after trading center Phillip Danault for a draft pick in December and acquiring Panarin at a suppressed price in February, though he has been known to under-promise often and, sometimes, over-deliver.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
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Supervising sound editor Alastair Sirkett told IndieWire that Peter Claffey’s big, former-rugby-player frame really helps that moment sing with suppressed panic.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some of the new information ran counter to narratives his defense had told reporters or submitted to the court, but some also contradicted statements by the prosecution and the government.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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In some shootings, video evidence contradicted immigration officials' initial accounts.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And of course, our sweet, repressed boys steal the show.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
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And Dane, who portrayed Nate’s repressed dad Cal Jacobs, died in February following a battle with ALS, after filming scenes for the show’s final season.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recanted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recanted. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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