recant Hear it!

recant Definition

re·cant (ri kant′)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to withdraw or renounce (beliefs or statements formerly held), esp. in a formal or public manner

Etymology: L recantare < re-, back, again + cantare, freq. of canere, to sing: see chant

recant Related Forms
re′·can·ta′·tion (rē′kan tā′s̸hən) noun re·cant′er noun
recant Synonyms

recant

v.

retract, revoke, renounce, disavow, disclaim, abjure, deny, take back, cancel, back down, back out, withdraw, rescind, abrogate, forswear, contradict, repudiate, abnegate, annul, void, countermand, recall, call back, disown, unsay, nullify, repeal, draw in one's horns*, eat crow*, be of another mind*, eat humble pie*, eat one's words*, eat one's hat*; see also abandon 1.

Antonyms acknowledge*, maintain*, proclaim.

recant Usage Examples

Used with why or when

  • what: He refused to recant what he had said during the disputations.

Modifying Another Word

  • not: At worst, you may be put to death after much torture if you do not recant your belief in Jesus.
  • since: You think you know someone... Thankfully, he has since recanted.
  • publicly: Moreover, Autrecourt was ordered to publicly recant several of the articles specified in the legal record.
  • never: Hill never recanted his Marxism, but the writings of his later years widened considerably beyond their original focus on the English Revolution.
  • also: I wonder if he will also recant his belief that the Nazis invented Unidentified Flying Objects, UFO's.
recant Quotes

I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.

—Luther, Martin