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
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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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Some residents had previously spoken at a December hearing on the project when the Council voted to postpone a decision to better understand the project.—
Alexandra Hardle,
The Arizona Republic,
16 Feb. 2025
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Strictly speaking, however, City’s win over the league does not impact the second case that was launched against the new rules last week.—
Dan Sheldon,
The Athletic,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The continual errors have led fans at home games to loudly chant for Woodson’s ouster.—
Michael Marot,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2025
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Then, after more speeches and an introduction to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle, Phil left his stump and made his prediction as the crowd chanted his name and cheered.—
Julia Gomez,
USA TODAY,
2 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Within moments, a laughing chorus mimics it; our little group is belting out our rallying cry, established over the past few days of wandering up and down the Nile River.—
Matt Dutile,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2025
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Lisa and Raye trade off on the first verse and chorus before passing the baton to Doja, who drops a verse as the song rides out.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Keith remains to a large degree elusive, but Magaro subtly gives us insight into what drives his artistry, which is then augmented by Watts’ observations, from a critic’s P.O.V., and those of Manfred, a protective friend and professional associate with a profound respect for Jarrett’s gifts.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
16 Feb. 2025
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After the initial observations in March, a second observation campaign has been planned for May.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Schachner playfully lectures Smooth for pulling the blue bandanna off his Team Fluff teammate, Alice.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
10 Feb. 2025
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The long-standing lament that Latin American conservatives, centrists, and leftists share is that whereas the United States comes to the region to punish and lecture, China comes to trade.—
Will Freeman,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Related: What will Kendrick Lamar sing during the Super Bowl?—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
9 Feb. 2025
-
The star sang, danced and played the drums, captivating the audience with his undeniable stage presence.—
Diane J. Cho,
People.com,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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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
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Repetition with fidelity led, with the aid of print, to longer organized forms such as the motet, a vocal music composition, and the conductus, a Latin song with a rhythmic structure.—
Lynn Whidden,
Scientific American,
26 July 2024
Noun
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This became rapidly apparent once Ye blasted out more antisemitic remarks via Instagram and his only recently revived Twitter account, in posts that both platforms have since removed.—
Aja Romano,
Vox,
7 Feb. 2025
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Hours later, Gascón posted to Instagram addressing his remarks.—
Kalhan Rosenblatt,
NBC News,
7 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near descant
Cite this Entry
“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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