What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recant
Example
The politician was forced to recant his earlier statement due to public backlash. [recant: verb]
Example
The witness recanted his testimony during the trial, leading to a mistrial. [recanted: past tense]
repudiate
Example
The company repudiated the claims made by the former employee. [repudiate: verb]
Example
He repudiated his former mentor after discovering his involvement in illegal activities. [repudiated: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Repudiate is more commonly used than recant in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between recant and repudiate?
Both recant and repudiate can be used in formal contexts, but recant is more commonly associated with legal or religious contexts and may be perceived as more formal or specialized.
