as in retracted
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as in renounced
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
the Inquisition forced Galileo to recant his support of the Copernican observation that the earth revolves around the sun
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Recent Examples of recanted
Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
The men were arrested for the brutal murder of Lisa Kindred in front of her children on Mother’s Day 1999, based on witness testimony that was recanted.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
On the night he was arrested, Martinez confessed to shaking Heather and banging her head against a crib, but later recanted that confession.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Citing such evidence, The New York Times editorial board recently recanted some of its earlier support for legalization.
—William Garriott, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
Police said initially there was a report of shots fired, but a minor recanted that statement to officers.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Attorney Warren Lupel, who represented Gary Dotson, a Chicago-area man who went to prison after being convicted of rape and kidnapping but was freed after the woman who accused him of those crimes recanted her testimony, has died.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
The first, who had lived in his Washington townhouse, later recanted her accusations.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
One has since recanted An Indianapolis detective said in court documents that a tipster told police Turner robbed the bank.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The two who confessed – and later recanted – were convicted of capital murder and remained in prison until DNA evidence proving their innocence led to their release in 2009, prosecutors said.
—Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
Hitchcock later recanted his confession and said his brother killed Cindy, but he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
The men were arrested for the brutal murder of Lisa Kindred in front of her children on Mother’s Day 1999, based on witness testimony that was recanted.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
On the night he was arrested, Martinez confessed to shaking Heather and banging her head against a crib, but later recanted that confession.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Citing such evidence, The New York Times editorial board recently recanted some of its earlier support for legalization.
—William Garriott, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
Police said initially there was a report of shots fired, but a minor recanted that statement to officers.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Attorney Warren Lupel, who represented Gary Dotson, a Chicago-area man who went to prison after being convicted of rape and kidnapping but was freed after the woman who accused him of those crimes recanted her testimony, has died.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
The first, who had lived in his Washington townhouse, later recanted her accusations.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
One has since recanted An Indianapolis detective said in court documents that a tipster told police Turner robbed the bank.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recanted
Adjective
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In a demo at CES 2026, Bluetooth SIG marketing VP Dave Hollander set an unlock distance on a phone across the room from a Bauer smart lock—then walked within 2 feet of the lock, leading its deadbolt to whir into the retracted position.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
19 Mar. 2026
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The three presenters on the hepatitis B vaccine were not vaccine scientists, and two had authored a retracted paper about autism.—
Dr. Debra Houry,
Time,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images Japan renounced war under Article 9 of its post-World War II pacifist constitution.—
Sam Meredith,Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
President Ahmed al-Sharaa is a one-time al-Qaeda commander who renounced the ideology before taking power.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 2000, the UNIFIL established a de-facto area along the southern Lebanese border with Israel, after Israeli forces withdrew following their second invasion.—
Alayna Treene,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
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An earlier court petition was dismissed in 2015 after the ex-wife withdrew it.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The withheld funding supports election monitoring, independent media and other pro-democracy programs abroad.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But the country’s leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has denied Cuba has political prisoners and has stressed that his government is not negotiating any internal political matters with the United States.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
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Beyoncé's publicist has denied rumors that the singer's next album will be released the week of the Met Gala.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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General Manager Ken Holland hinted at potentially being done after trading center Phillip Danault for a draft pick in December and acquiring Panarin at a suppressed price in February, though he has been known to under-promise often and, sometimes, over-deliver.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
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Supervising sound editor Alastair Sirkett told IndieWire that Peter Claffey’s big, former-rugby-player frame really helps that moment sing with suppressed panic.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During their investigation, police found evidence that contradicted Kirby's explanation.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
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Some of the new information ran counter to narratives his defense had told reporters or submitted to the court, but some also contradicted statements by the prosecution and the government.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The film explores a teenager’s struggles in 1998 alongside his mother’s repressed trauma from the 1948 Jeju April 3 Uprising.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
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Fuqua’s focus is on the music, with songwriting, video production and choreography scenes, and full-length live performances tackled with staggering precision by Jaafar Jackson, who also sensitively delivers Michael’s repressed anguish in confrontational scenes with his father.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recanted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recanted. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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