1
as in to speak
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject
an English professor who loves to descant on his beloved Shakespeare
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
variants
also discant
1
as in chorus
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in observation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descant
Jesse Green, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
Then comes a longer descant of mixed-up work, including bad versions of pop tunes and ambitious attempts at pop epics.
—Adam Gopni, The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2021
For seven decades, Katz has been providing a visual descant to the work of the New York School of poets, many of whom were his friends.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2022
Birds provided an intermittent descant to the insect buzz and the drone of a distant tractor.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2022
The Hynde storyline, which includes her messing around with songs on an acoustic guitar, runs as a kind of descant against the personal and professional noise of the Pistols.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2022
This is a dark and defensive descant to a more substantial and necessary conversation about whiteness in America.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 3 July 2019
Noun
Bart, too idiosyncratic merely to copy the idiosyncrasies of the movie’s Christopher Lloyd, instead adds a descant of commentary atop them, sometimes seeming to extemporize a different show entirely.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
Then comes a longer descant of mixed-up work, including bad versions of pop tunes and ambitious attempts at pop epics.
—Adam Gopni, The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2021
For seven decades, Katz has been providing a visual descant to the work of the New York School of poets, many of whom were his friends.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2022
Birds provided an intermittent descant to the insect buzz and the drone of a distant tractor.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2022
The Hynde storyline, which includes her messing around with songs on an acoustic guitar, runs as a kind of descant against the personal and professional noise of the Pistols.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2022
This is a dark and defensive descant to a more substantial and necessary conversation about whiteness in America.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 3 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descant
Verb
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Meanwhile, Piper, Lachlan and their parents have made their way to the Buddhist community so that Timothy and Victoria can speak with the monk, Luang Por Teera (Suthichai Yoon).—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
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This is not the first time Wood has spoken about her distinctive smile while promoting The White Lotus season three.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The protesters could still be heard chanting throughout, and police responded after a pro-Palestinian protester stole an Israeli flag.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2025
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The message was clear from the terraces too, as the Forest fans repeatedly chanted ‘England’s No 10’ in support of Gibbs-White, while offering a less friendly chant for Tuchel.—
Paul Taylor,
The Athletic,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The chorus is sleek, mid-tempo pop perfection thanks to her ongoing partnership and songwriting chemistry with Max Martin.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
28 Mar. 2025
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There has been a growing chorus of opposition in Europe to lifting the sanctions, which remain their main leverage against Moscow.—
John Leicester,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The findings show that these sharks are spending time in waters less than 50 meters (164 feet) deep off Maine, with peak sightings occurring between July and September; this aligns with previous observations of white sharks using similar habitats in other regions.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
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The Power of Primes The McKay conjecture began with the observation of a strange coincidence.—
Leila Sloman,
WIRED,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Vance, who lectures U.S. allies about how to run their affairs, reminds us of every rich guy from suburban Pittsburgh who visits the Amalfi Coast in the summer, drives up the pedestrianized streets, and then complains that the pasta is too chewy and there’s no AC in his 15th-century villa.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2025
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Obama himself had to lecture black men testily about the need to turn out for Harris, suggesting their reluctance was due to sexism, but Biden’s numbers with this demographic were worse.—
W. James Antle III,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The two groups yelled at each other while the Christians also sang and called on Grotto members to accept Jesus.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2025
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Relatives and friends sing dozens of traditional songs, and special dancers accompany her at appropriate times.—
Alejandra Rubio,
NPR,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The service and concert will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the church, 815 S. Washington St. Castle Singers are vocalists who perform a variety of chamber repertoire, varying from Renaissance madrigals and motets to contemporary pop and vocal jazz.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
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Her husband, my grandfather, was not only a composer who wrote liturgical music, motets, symphonies, and string quartets but also a beloved music teacher who believed that music was as crucial to the development of the mind as math.—
Stephanie H. Murray,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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What To Know Boebert's remarks came after President Donald Trump changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America via an executive order during his first days in office.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
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The remarks came just two days a report on BBC Sport revealed former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone had urged the sport’s commission to bring back the V10s.—
Dan Cancian,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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