recanted; recanting; recants
: to make an open confession of error
Synonyms
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
Several months after his confession, Toole recanted.
—
Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 27 July 2024
The defense also accused the police of running a shoddy investigation and ignoring other potential suspects, primarily an ex-boyfriend who allegedly confessed during a panic attack to killing Woll, but then recanted.
—Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 18 July 2024
In addition, the 12- and 14-year-old witnesses would later recant their testimony, claiming coercion at the hands of police and prosecution.
—Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 26 July 2024
Those witnesses, who were 12 and 14, later recanted their testimony as adults and said they were coerced by prosecutors and police.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for recant 
Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 27 July 2024
The defense also accused the police of running a shoddy investigation and ignoring other potential suspects, primarily an ex-boyfriend who allegedly confessed during a panic attack to killing Woll, but then recanted.
—Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 18 July 2024
In addition, the 12- and 14-year-old witnesses would later recant their testimony, claiming coercion at the hands of police and prosecution.
—Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 26 July 2024
Those witnesses, who were 12 and 14, later recanted their testimony as adults and said they were coerced by prosecutors and police.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for recant
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Recant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recant. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
: to renounce or withdraw prior statements or testimony
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