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
Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Walker later recanted his confession, according to the Innocence Project.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2026
Trump summoned Graham to Mar-a-Lago, and soon afterward Graham recanted his condemnation.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
Vessel sued, and in mid-December the town recanted by authorizing a four-story, 71-unit version.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2026
However, when Sarah's third husband learned of the plot from another daughter and called the FBI, David recanted his confession.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
In a 400-page report, the board said that two men who provided key testimony that led to Pippitt's conviction recanted their stories.
—Aki Nace, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Still, British Jews have every right to question their state’s extraordinary efforts to free someone who has called for violence against them and who has recanted only in the vaguest terms.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Key witnesses in the case had recanted their testimony.
—Gary D. Robertson, Fortune, 19 Dec. 2025
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
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
Trump summoned Graham to Mar-a-Lago, and soon afterward Graham recanted his condemnation.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
Vessel sued, and in mid-December the town recanted by authorizing a four-story, 71-unit version.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2026
However, when Sarah's third husband learned of the plot from another daughter and called the FBI, David recanted his confession.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
In a 400-page report, the board said that two men who provided key testimony that led to Pippitt's conviction recanted their stories.
—Aki Nace, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Still, British Jews have every right to question their state’s extraordinary efforts to free someone who has called for violence against them and who has recanted only in the vaguest terms.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Key witnesses in the case had recanted their testimony.
—Gary D. Robertson, Fortune, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recanted
Adjective
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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
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Here’s how the situation unfolded and why the since-retracted comment was so controversial.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa never renounced his allegiance to Al Qaeda and has ordered horrific attacks on Syrian Kurds, Druse and Bedouins to consolidate his power.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
But no evidence suggests that Gu has renounced her American citizenship.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Back in June 2025, Baldoni’s team withdrew their bid to subpoena Swift, and instead successfully petitioned for access to said text exchanges.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Talankin, realizing that history was unfolding before his eyes, promptly withdrew his resignation.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 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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On Monday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles had denied Thompson's request to commute his death sentence to a lesser penalty.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Tehran has denied the allegations.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Letting muscles weaken suppressed genes involved in mitochondrial function and energy production in particular, including genes that are essential for muscle endurance and recovery.—
Bonnie Tsui,
The Atlantic,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Too long submerged in suppressed grief, Zilpha now came up from its depth like any swimmer stroking toward light and sweet air.—
Annie Proulx,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Some of the claims by Bovino and other officials were contradicted by witnesses and video from the scene.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Bystander videos contradicted each claim, instead showing Pretti holding a cellphone and helping a woman who had been pepper sprayed by a federal officer.—
Bill Barrow,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Walters and her lawyers had argued that repressed memories delayed the filing.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
27 Jan. 2026
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The more involved Jana becomes, the more she is forced to confront her past and her repressed memories.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recanted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recanted. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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