recant

verb

re·​cant ri-ˈkant How to pronounce recant (audio)
recanted; recanting; recants
Synonyms of recant

transitive verb

1
: to withdraw or repudiate (a statement or belief) formally and publicly : renounce
2
: revoke

intransitive verb

: to make an open confession of error
recantation
ˌrē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce recant (audio)
noun

Synonyms of recant

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abjure, renounce, forswear, recant, retract mean to withdraw one's word or professed belief.

abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath.

abjured the errors of his former faith

renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown.

renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal.

I cannot forswear my principles

recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught.

if they recant they will be spared

retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation.

the newspaper had to retract the story

Examples of recant in a Sentence

Church officials asked the minister to recant. Witnesses threatened to recant their testimony when the court released their names to the paper.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This included expert witnesses who said the child’s death was an accidental drowning brought on by a seizure and a jailhouse informant who recanted his trial testimony that Duncan had confessed to the crime. — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026 Lawyers for the former Penn State assistant football coach told a court that one of his victims signed an affidavit recanting his testimony, court documents say. — Dan Snyder, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 His conviction rested on circumstantial evidence and testimony from witnesses Myers’ lawyers said were unreliable, including one witness who later recanted his testimony. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026 Over the years, questions about the evidence against Smith emerged as a witness recanted, Lowden repudiated his earlier statement implicating Smith, and another man claimed responsibility for Hart's killing. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recant

Word History

Etymology

Latin recantare, from re- + cantare to sing — more at chant

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of recant was in 1535

Rhymes for recant

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Browse Nearby Words

recanalization
recant
recantation
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Cite this Entry

“Recant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recant. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

recant

verb
re·​cant ri-ˈkant How to pronounce recant (audio)
: to take back publicly an opinion or belief
recantation
ˌrē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce recant (audio)
noun

Legal Definition

recant

transitive verb
re·​cant ri-ˈkant How to pronounce recant (audio)
: to renounce or withdraw (prior statements or testimony)
surprised the prosecution by recanting statements made earlier to the police

intransitive verb

: to renounce or withdraw prior statements or testimony
recantation
ˌrē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce recant (audio)
noun
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