as in inclination
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon
a steep cant of the riverbank at that turn in the river
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in deception
the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have
many accused the evangelist of cant, since his lavish lifestyle seemed to bear little resemblance to what he was preaching
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in terminology
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field
the colorful cant used by movie producers and publicity agents in Hollywood
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in leaning
running in a slanting direction
the cant buttresses on the interior walls are made of solid oak
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of cant
Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 14 Oct. 2024
If thieves’ cant—a language known only to criminals—was the Devil’s cabinet, bourgeois society couldn’t help but peep inside.
—JSTOR Daily, 27 June 2024
Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Verdier’s innovative design will use a canting keel as the support for one of the foils, with the other two contact points being a foil on the rudder and the two lateral foils.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 June 2025
The cockpit is canted towards the driver and the warm glow of the ambient lights bathe the cabin in red.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
There's hundreds of cant-miss deals on travel accessories this Prime Day, from supportive neck pillows and lightweight steamers to portable chargers and noise-canceling headphones.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2024
While Cahan’s novella canted toward Jake’s perspective, Rothstein’s play is an unabashedly feminist-forward retelling.
—Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
The top deck solar array is canted up 30 degrees to catch the low Sun angle near the south pole of the Moon.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 3 Oct. 2023
Sharply angled surfaces, called chines, run from the nose to the air intakes on either side of the lower fuselage; chines then run further back from those intakes to the wings and to twin tail fins, which are slightly canted from the vertical.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Jan. 2020
Noun
The Eras Tour is one of those cant-miss concerts that everyone will be talking about for years (and decades) to come, so don’t miss out on this incredible show.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 14 Oct. 2024
If thieves’ cant—a language known only to criminals—was the Devil’s cabinet, bourgeois society couldn’t help but peep inside.
—JSTOR Daily, 27 June 2024
Verb
Verdier’s most notable innovation is the use of a canting keel as the support for one of the foils, with the other two contact points being a foil on the rudder and, alternately, the two lateral foils.
—Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Verdier’s innovative design will use a canting keel as the support for one of the foils, with the other two contact points being a foil on the rudder and the two lateral foils.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 June 2025
The cockpit is canted towards the driver and the warm glow of the ambient lights bathe the cabin in red.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
There's hundreds of cant-miss deals on travel accessories this Prime Day, from supportive neck pillows and lightweight steamers to portable chargers and noise-canceling headphones.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2024
While Cahan’s novella canted toward Jake’s perspective, Rothstein’s play is an unabashedly feminist-forward retelling.
—Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
The top deck solar array is canted up 30 degrees to catch the low Sun angle near the south pole of the Moon.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 3 Oct. 2023
Sharply angled surfaces, called chines, run from the nose to the air intakes on either side of the lower fuselage; chines then run further back from those intakes to the wings and to twin tail fins, which are slightly canted from the vertical.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Jan. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cant
Verb
-
Democrats nationwide have eyed similar efforts to counteract the opposition’s efforts to further tilt the balance of power in the lower chamber.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
That same year, Swin Cash, then with the New York Liberty, appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, not in her uniform but in a bright red Michael Kors silk chiffon dress, head tilted back and lips slightly parted.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Three key players — defensive tackle Benito Jones (oblique), edge rusher Chop Robinson (knee) and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) — are questionable.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
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That's on display this September with Roman Anthony on the shelf with an oblique injury and Alex Bregman, who could opt-out of his deal at season's end, in a significant slump in the second half.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Along the way, bitcoin has broken out from five prior downward-sloping ranges similar to this one—a positive technical sign.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
-
But as front-end rates start to decline, the Treasury yield curve should become positively sloped, which means that longer-term rates should offer more attractive yields than shorter-term rates.—
Chris Gunster,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The character collection leans into more alternate builds for main characters.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Even if the recovery leans toward the shorter end of the timeline, Coulibaly will need a ramp-up before returning to game action.—
Grant Afseth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Snipers set up on a very sloped roof on a suspect barricaded in a motel.—
Harper’s Magazine,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Seen previously on models like NZXT’s own H6 Flow and the more recent APNX V1, angled fan mounts like those on the H9 Flow RGB offer the best of both worlds.—
Thomas Soderstrom,
PC Magazine,
13 Sep. 2025
-
They’re finished with a zip-and-button fly and angled side pockets.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cant. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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