as in retracting
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 recanting
But in 1999, the four men were arrested, with Springsteen and Scott confessing and later recanting, according to the AP.
—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Campbell also dismissed the third eyewitness recanting her testimony, saying there's no evidence of tampering during the trial.
—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
26 Jan. 2026
Lunsford ended up recanting his statement when questioned again, this time by a district attorney’s investigator.
—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
17 Sep. 2025
However, in a 2024 court filing known as a coram nobis petition, Zachary Adams revealed Autry was recanting his testimony and asked for a new trial.
—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Campbell also dismissed the third eyewitness recanting her testimony, saying there's no evidence of tampering during the trial.
—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
26 Jan. 2026
Lunsford ended up recanting his statement when questioned again, this time by a district attorney’s investigator.
—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
17 Sep. 2025
However, in a 2024 court filing known as a coram nobis petition, Zachary Adams revealed Autry was recanting his testimony and asked for a new trial.
—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recanting
Verb
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a recall notice that the seat belts in certain Expedition and Lincoln vehicles may inadvertently lock, preventing the belt from retracting or extending.
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The Salton Sea has been retracting as the climate has become hotter, leaving behind pesticides and fertilizers in toxic dust from the multibillion-dollar local agricultural industry that blow through our communities, contributing to the asthma crisis facing our children.
Verb
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Corbett, of Palatine, announced his independent candidacy days after renouncing the current state of the Republican Party and dropping his consulting business work with GOP contenders.
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The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.
Verb
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While conventional wisdom had long been that consumers should build up a certain level of savings — six months' worth of living expenses, for example — those who study the accounts now consider saving to be a dynamic process of paying in, withdrawing, and then replenishing.
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The military held a similar security strip from 1985 until 2000, before withdrawing after years of steady casualties, a toll that is accumulating once again.
Verb
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There’s no denying that Lola Tung has impeccable style—I’m constantly referencing her fierce street style looks—so copying her accessory of choice feels like a safe move.
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Resident cites road, school crowding concerns Resident Kacey Pope urged the board to recommend denying the rezonings, and no residents spoke in favor of the projects.
Verb
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This suggests the Ultra will be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, contradicting previous predictions of a later release.
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Defending that explanation proved to be difficult Monday when Haney called two firefighters to the stand that delivered contradicting accounts of the evening.
Cite this Entry
“Recanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recanting. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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