recant

verb

re·​cant ri-ˈkant 

recanted; recanting; recants

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 

noun

Synonyms

• abjure
• abnegate
• forswear
• foreswear
• renege
• renounce
• repeal
• repudiate
• retract
• take back
• unsay
• withdraw

Choose the Right Synonym for recant

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

Among the key evidence used to convict him of first-degree murder was testimony from two boys who later recanted, saying they had been coerced by police and prosecutors. —CBS News, 23 Oct. 2024

But Shawn Ryan, the host of the podcast where Howard made his claim, posted a video to X on Oct. 13 recanting it after being contacted by a guardsman and reviewing documents. —Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 22 Oct. 2024

Dunn’s conviction was overturned by a Missouri judge on July 22 after two men, who were teenagers at the time the crime occurred, recanted their testimony of seeing Dunn shoot Rogers, citing coercion from police and prosecutors, per The Washington Post, The New York Times and BBC News. —Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 1 Aug. 2024

Two years later, Monica Rivera, the only eyewitness to the crime, recanted in a tearful phone call with Duran’s family. —Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024

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

Kids Definition

recant

verb

re·​cant ri-ˈkant 

: to take back publicly an opinion or belief

recantation

ˌrē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Legal Definition

recant

transitive verb

re·​cant ri-ˈkant 

: 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 

noun