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GRE vocabulary

recant

verbHigh-frequency wordMore R words

to formally withdraw or renounce a former belief or statement

Word origin: From Latin recantare, to sing back or revoke.

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In a sentence

Recant in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing recant in a sentence.

Under pressure from the church, the scientist was forced to recant his theory.

Under threat of excommunication, the scholar was pressured to recant his published theories before the tribunal.

Synonyms
Antonyms
affirmmaintainuphold

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Verbal · Text Completion

The novelist's late style is admired precisely for its blank: every superfluous phrase has been pared away, leaving prose of startling economy.

Select the word that best completes the sentence.

Usage & nuance

Using “recant” well

Recant specifically involves taking back a previously held belief or statement, often publicly and under pressure. Unlike a casual change of mind, it implies a formal renunciation of something one once affirmed.

Common questions

Questions about “recant”

Recant (verb) means to formally withdraw or renounce a former belief or statement
Here is recant used in an example sentence: "Under pressure from the church, the scientist was forced to recant his theory." Another example: "Under threat of excommunication, the scholar was pressured to recant his published theories before the tribunal."
Common synonyms for recant include retract, disavow, renounce, abjure.
Antonyms of recant include affirm, maintain, uphold.
Clusters with retract, disavow, renounce, and abjure in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms affirm, maintain, and uphold serve as opposites.
Yes. Recant is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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