descants 1 of 2

Definition of descantsnext
present tense third-person singular of descant
1
as in lectures
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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2
as in chants
to produce musical sounds with the voice the world-famous soprano descanted above the melody line

Synonyms & Similar Words

descants

2 of 2

noun

variants also discants
plural of descant

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for descants
Verb
  • With me, my wife lectures me more than my children.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The van’s speakers played a high-volume mashup of construction sounds, Jordan Peterson lectures, Marine Corps drills, and mumbling voices.
    Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • As the crowd chants largely out of sight, heavy automatic gunfire can be heard for 15 uninterrupted seconds.
    Marin Scott, NBC news, 14 Jan. 2026
  • The Barmy Army chants restart as the England players partly walk over to applaud them.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Zhdanov and his team calculated the depth of this possible reservoir by flying a helicopter that was kitted out with electromagnetic equipment over a section of the of the lake and combined these observations with magnetic measurements to study the structure of the reservoir.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Here are my observations on the 52-year-old stadium, which could be left behind in favor of a new location in the near future.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The older son, Dustin, barely speaks, and baby James is wearing a grocery bag for a diaper.
    Francine Prose, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
  • That speaks to the state of fuel-cell infrastructure in the country.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Best Roman Shades Contributor Lila Allen sings the brand’s praises for the custom curtain offerings available, as well.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The caged bird sings with a fearful trillof things unknown but longed for stilland his tune is heard on the distant hillfor the caged bird sings of freedom.
    Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In wide-ranging remarks, Powell acknowledged young graduates were entering a challenging job market.
    Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Zelenskyy’s remarks come as Ukraine deepens its role in the region, sharing intelligence and defense expertise with Middle Eastern partners facing Iranian missile and drone strikes.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Karim just talks to the camera about elephants in a conversational tone.
    Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Karim simply talks to his camera in a conversational tone about the elephants at the San Diego Zoo.
    Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Her sound blends sleek electropop and dance-pop with R&B influences, anchored by a knack for radio-ready choruses.
    Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • But Harriet Tubman hasn’t written verses or choruses for her, instead opting for a whirlpool of slushy guitar and sticky rhythms that swirls around Muldrow’s impressionistic declarations and assertive meditations.
    Reed Jackson, SPIN, 30 Mar. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Descants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descants. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.

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