1
Withdraw a claim
Formally state that an earlier assertion or accusation is no longer maintained.
Example
After the records disproved his accusation, the witness recanted the claim.
recant
/rɪˈkænt/ · rih-KANTverb
To withdraw a previously stated belief or claim.
Use recant when someone formally or publicly takes back a position, accusation, or belief that they had previously affirmed.
What recant Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Renounce a belief
Publicly abandon a doctrine or conviction previously expressed.
Example
Under pressure, the writer refused to recant her earlier criticism.
3
Reverse public testimony
Take back an earlier account, often after new evidence or pressure emerges.
Example
The witness later recanted part of her testimony.
Use recant Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
Under pressure, the writer refused to recant her earlier criticism.
The newspaper recanted its accusation after reviewing the original documents.
Although challenged repeatedly, the researcher would not recant the central claim.
Precision Matters
Recant overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
recant
vs.Usually concerns a belief, claim, accusation, or testimony once affirmed.
retract
Broadly means withdraw a statement, publication, offer, or physical object.
recant
vs.Specifically takes back something previously stated or professed.
renounce
Formally gives up a right, title, belief, or association.
recant
vs.Acknowledges the earlier position and now withdraws it.
deny
States that an allegation or proposition is not true, possibly from the beginning.
recant
vs.Abandons the earlier claim or belief.
revise
Changes or improves part of a statement without necessarily withdrawing it.
Test recant in Context
He will formally withdraw his own earlier statement.
1
After the complete recording showed that his accusation was false, the spokesperson agreed to publicly ___ the statement he had made the previous week.