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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in observation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descant
Jesse Green, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
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
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
Birds provided an intermittent descant to the insect buzz and the drone of a distant tractor.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 2 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
This is a dark and defensive descant to a more substantial and necessary conversation about whiteness in America.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 3 July 2019
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.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
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
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
Birds provided an intermittent descant to the insect buzz and the drone of a distant tractor.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 2 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
This is a dark and defensive descant to a more substantial and necessary conversation about whiteness in America.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 3 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descant
Verb
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Victor’s family told the AP that barely any of the officers spoke to nearby family members before firing.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Apr. 2025
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While speaking from the grounds at Augusta National, Rory expressed those sentiments.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The need to sing and dance together is as ancient as the earliest humans who played drums and chanted around campfires.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
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Despite a strong promo, fans chanted for Roman Reigns.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The chorus is sleek, mid-tempo pop perfection thanks to her ongoing partnership and songwriting chemistry with Max Martin.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
28 Mar. 2025
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There has been a growing chorus of opposition in Europe to lifting the sanctions, which remain their main leverage against Moscow.—
John Leicester,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In simplest terms, the rate at which the universe expands on paper doesn’t match actual astronomical observations.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
17 Apr. 2025
-
One option is to conduct observations at submillimeter radio wavelengths, which is the next waveband up from far-infrared.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Quilting group hosts lecture, workshop El Camino Quilt Guild meets at 9:30 a.m. April 8 at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Drive.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
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But the club’s members didn’t lecture or advocate until 20 years after its 1876 founding.—
Ron Grossman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Today’s news item is brought to you by the letters S, Z, and A. Sesame Street welcomed SZA on Thursday to sing a song about gratitude.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
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Shakira is extremely experienced and professional — not just with her choreographed dance moves and her ability to sing to a large crowd, but also in knowing what her fans want.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
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Her husband, my grandfather, was not only a composer who wrote liturgical music, motets, symphonies, and string quartets but also a beloved music teacher who believed that music was as crucial to the development of the mind as math.—
Stephanie H. Murray,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In conversation with Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, and Mike Joy, Petty passed a remark before leaving, which triggered a response from Joy.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
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His remarks came as a handful of Republican holdouts from the House met with Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) at the White House Tuesday afternoon as part of the two sides’ latest lobbying efforts.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descant. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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