recantation

/,ri:kæn'teiʃn/

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Word: Recantation

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Recantation is the act of taking back or saying that you no longer believe something you said or wrote before. It’s usually a formal way of saying that you no longer support a previous statement or belief.

Usage Instructions:

• When to Use: Use "recantation" when discussing situations where someone has changed their mind about something they previously stated, especially in formal or serious contexts.
• Context: This word is often used in legal, religious, or academic discussions.

Example Sentence:

• After much pressure, the scientist issued a recantation of his earlier claims about the effectiveness of the drug.

Advanced Usage:

• In literature or historical discussions, you might hear about a person's recantation regarding their beliefs or ideologies, often in the context of societal or personal conflicts.

Word Variants:

• Recant (verb): To withdraw or take back a statement or belief.
  • Example: She decided to recant her previous comments after realizing their impact.
• Recanting (gerund/present participle): The act of withdrawing a statement.
  • Example: His recanting of the theory surprised many in the scientific community.

Different Meaning:

While "recantation" primarily refers to taking back a statement or belief, in some contexts, it can also imply a public acknowledgment of wrongness, particularly in cases of false accusations or mistaken beliefs.

Synonyms:

• Withdrawal
• Renunciation
• Disavowal
• Retractation (less common)

Idioms:

There are no direct idioms specifically for "recantation," but you might hear phrases like: - "Eat your words" - to retract something you said earlier.

Phrasal Verbs:

Although "recantation" doesn't have specific phrasal verbs, the verb "recant" can be paired with phrases like: - "Recant from" - to withdraw from a previous statement. - Example: He had to recant from his earlier stance on the issue.

Summary:

Recantation is an important concept in discussions about beliefs and statements, especially when someone decides to publicly take back what they said.

Academic

Noun

1. a disavowal or taking back of a previous assertion

Synonyms

• retraction
• abjuration