recant

Vocabulary Word

Definition

When you 'recant', you formally withdraw, deny, or reverse your previous statement or belief. It's like pressing the undo button on something you've said or believed.

Examples in Different Contexts

In religious history, 'recanting' has played a role in cases of heresy. A historian might detail, 'Under pressure, Galileo recanted his view that Earth orbits the sun, a theory opposed by the Church.'

Practice Scenarios

Business

Scenario:

The new financial data flags potential risks in our earlier assumptions. Should we reevaluate our forecast?

Response:

I agree, given the potential risks, we should recant our initial forecast and develop a more realistic one.

Public-Policy

Scenario:

This report documents rapid temperature increases over the last decade. How does this influence our climate policy?

Response:

Considering the alarming rate of temperature increases, it may be necessary to recant any skepticism and address this issue urgently.