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
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
See all Example Sentences for recant 
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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
See all Example Sentences for recant
Articles Related to recant
Dictionary Entries Near recant
Cite this Entry
“Recant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recant. Accessed 25 Nov. 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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