recants

verb

present tense third-person singular of recant
as in renounces
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recants
  1. renounces
  2. retracts
  3. withdraws
  4. denies
  5. contradicts
Verb
  • Japan has recently taken steps to expand its defense posture, including lifting its ban on lethal arms exports and mulling changes to Article 9 of its constitution, which renounces war and the maintenance of armed forces.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 31 May 2026
  • Miami will have the ability to use multiple sizable salary cap exceptions if Wiggins opts out or if Wiggins stays but Miami renounces Powell, which remove his cap hold and eliminate his Bird rights.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
Definition of renounces
Verb
  • With a catheter inserted into a vein, intravenous tubing fitted and a syringe pump loaded and primed, the subject waits as the bed retracts until his brain is centered within the great coils of an MRI machine calibrated to map altered brain states.
    — Charles Moss, SPIN, 16 July 2026
  • The blade guard retracts to allow the saw to cut through the target material.
    — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026
Definition of retracts
Verb
  • If a friend withdraws, reach out softly and offer clear help without pressure.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026
  • If Miller withdraws by Wednesday, Republicans can hold a special election to replace him on the ballot.
    — Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of withdraws
Verb
  • The government denies this, and says the law will be aimed at making unused land productive.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harboring TTP militants, an allegation Kabul denies.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of denies
Verb
  • As a result, his art directly contradicts that, offering a broader personal experience and following themes of aging, time, and memory.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 15 July 2026
  • The stigma surrounding romance contradicts its enduring popularity as one of publishing’s most successful genres.
    — Katelyn Frey, The Conversation, 10 July 2026
Definition of contradicts
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

recanting
recants
recap
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Cite this Entry

“Recants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recants. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on recants

Nglish: Translation of recants for Spanish Speakers

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