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
Related Words
2
as in observation
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descant
Jesse Green, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
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
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
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
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.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for descant
Verb
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Schnapp also spoke to PEOPLE about the series ending, insisting that all loose ends had been tied — even his character’s longstanding crush on his best friend Mike (Wolfhard).—
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Babbitt’s mother spoke several times, demanding justice for her daughter.—
Verb
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On the 15-track album, Rosalía uses strings, chanting, and religious iconography even while singing about cars, luxury, and jet-setting.—
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Numerous supporters gathered behind the north goal and chanted, sang, danced, waved flags and banged drums for the better part of the match’s 90 minutes.—
Noun
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In the wake of an ICE shooting that killed a woman in Minneapolis on Wednesday, academics have joined the chorus of left-wing radicals seeking to abolish the federal law enforcement agency.—
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From the speakers, gravelly voices sung in Portuguese about pick-up trucks and cattle over a chorus of accordions and a rollicking electronic beat.—
Noun
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Though their observation has yet to be verified by wildlife biologists, Kogo and Tapanes are working with Burmese pythons specialists at the University of Florida to confirm the species.—
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The most interesting observation from the Zubac injury was how well the Clippers played with Brook Lopez in the mix.—
Verb
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Christian author Philip Yancey is retiring from writing and lecturing after admitting to a long-running affair with a married woman.—
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After teaching at Sacramento City College and lecturing at UC Davis, Fisher moved into public history, working with the California Office of Historic Preservation and the Architectural History Department at Caltrans.—
Verb
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Demonstrators waved flags, chanted slogans, and sang songs in support of Iranians facing a violent government crackdown.—
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At concerts, the band would mostly alternate between songs sung by Weir and Garcia.—
Noun
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Latin polyphony and motets are being sung at the Offertory and during the distribution of Holy Communion.—
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The service and concert will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the church, 815 S. Washington St. Castle Singers are vocalists who perform a variety of chamber repertoire, varying from Renaissance madrigals and motets to contemporary pop and vocal jazz.—
Noun
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Leo, who has promised to keep Francis' signature policies such as welcoming gay Catholics and discussing women's ordination, echoed his predecessor's frequent criticisms of the global economic system during his remarks on Tuesday.—
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China imposed controls on exports to Japan with any military use, intensifying a dispute between Asia's top economies over remarks Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made last year on Taiwan.—
Cite this Entry
“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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