recant
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recant¹
- /ɹəˈkænt/
Rhymes with -ænt
Where it comes from
First attested in 1535, from Latin recantare (“to sing back, reecho, sing again, repeat in singing, recant, recall, revoke, charm back or away”), from re- (“back”) + canto (“to chant, to sing”), frequentative of cano.
verb recants · recanting · recanted
-
To withdraw or repudiate a statement or opinion formerly expressed, especially formally and publicly.
Convince me that I am wrong, and I will recant.
Similar: abjure, disavow, disown, recall, retract, revoke, take back, unsay, withcall
Similar: abjure, backpedal, disavow, disown, eat one's words, recall, recant, retract, revoke, swallow, take back, unsay, unspeak, walk back, withcall, withdraw · Opposite: affirm, aver, double down, maintain, stand firm, stand one's ground, uphold
recant²
- /ɹəˈkænt/
Rhymes with -ænt
verb recants · recanting · recanted
- To give a new cant (slant, angle) to something, in particular railway track on a curve. Numerous curves, which previously had given no trouble at 75 and 80 m.p.h., were realigned and recanted to adapt them for 90 m.p.h. and more, [...].
Similar: abjure, backpedal, disavow, disown, eat one's words, recall, recant, retract, revoke, swallow, take back, unsay, unspeak, walk back, withcall, withdraw · Opposite: affirm, aver, double down, maintain, stand firm, stand one's ground, uphold
Thesaurus
Translations
Every language
verb to withdraw or repudiate formally and publicly
| Español | retractarse |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 撤回 chèhuí |
| Français | rétracter, se rétracter, retirer |
| Deutsch | zurücknehmen, zurückziehen, widerrufen |
| Ελληνικά | αποκηρύσσω apokirýsso, αναιρώ anairó, παλινωδώ palinodó |
| Русский | отрека́ться otrekátʹsja |
Talk about this word "recant." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/recant. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. recant. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/recant "recant." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/recant.Cite this
@misc{recant_2026,
title = {recant},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/recant},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
