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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Swelling around your eyes may suggest an underactive thyroid, while retracting eyelids may signal an overactive thyroid.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Self-retracting nozzles are the most hygienic.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.—
SAM METZ,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
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The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Trump has also floated the possibility of withdrawing from NATO and threatened to pull troops from Germany, Italy, and Spain.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
8 May 2026
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Trump’s Gaza plan, which Israel and Hamas agreed to in October, involves Israeli troops withdrawing from Gaza and reconstruction starting as Hamas lays down its weapons.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
7 May 2026
Verb
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In Uthmeier’s mind, the world is unfairly denying white men careers as head coaches and coffeehouse baristas.—
Scott Maxwell,
Sun Sentinel,
9 May 2026
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In effectively denying the zoning measures sought by the county, the planning board on Wednesday reversed course on a previous 2018 approval by the same body, though with some different members, of essentially the same county plan.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Verb
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While this might not be too surprising to many, 36 is the average age of players today — contradicting the common stereotype of a medium dominated by kids, tweens and young teens.—
Marc Saltzman,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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Instead of contradicting Austen’s depictions, the series adds context and interiority, giving Mary a growth arc that highlights her similarities to the author’s archetypal heroines.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recanting. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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