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
In 1999, four suspects were arrested, with two suspects confessing but later recanting, police said.
—
Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2025
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, 29 Sep. 2025
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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Moreover, the patches of skin behind the upper arms and on the trunk reveal that the reptile had powerful muscles for retracting its forelimbs.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
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Perhaps that’s why his administration keeps dangling — and then retracting — the prospect of special exceptions for undocumented immigrants who work in certain sectors.—
Patricia Lopez,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Although exact details have yet to be released, people familiar with the matter told the Associated Press that Hamas is expected to release all 20 surviving hostages this weekend, while Israeli forces begin withdrawing from most of Gaza.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
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That bill was the backdrop for Skrmetti withdrawing the 2021 opinion.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Even worse, Park and his conservative successors had been bolstered by the very imperial forces from which the South Koreans had hoped to escape, in exchange for renouncing their right to forgive and to hold Japan accountable.—
Eun A Jo,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Nov. 2022
Verb
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Turning to a zone defense in the second half of Game 1 suffocated Phoenix’s offense, denying Alyssa Thomas the middle of the floor and turning the tide of the game.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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But there’s no denying that Wednesday’s exhibition was a special night for Jakucionis.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The allegation is that Comey authorized Richman to speak to the press anonymously, contradicting his testimony.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
8 Oct. 2025
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The memo, first reported by Axios, says that Congress must specifically appropriate funds for back pay, contradicting previous understandings of the law.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recanting. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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