retratar-se, desmentir, abjurar
1. to formally declare that one no longer holds a previously expressed belief, opinion, or statement
The witness was forced to recant his testimony in court.
A testemunha foi forçada a retratarse sobre seu depoimento em tribunal.
2. to renounce or reject a faith, belief, or doctrine that one previously held
Galileo was pressured to recant his scientific beliefs by the Church.
Galileu foi pressionado pela Igreja a abjurar suas crenças científicas.
3. to take back or withdraw words previously spoken
He refused to recant his harsh criticism of the policy.
Ele se recusou a desmentir sua crítica severa à política.
The word carries historical weight, particularly in religious and scientific contexts. In Brazil and the USA, it's often associated with historical events like Galileo's recantation. In modern usage, it frequently appears in legal contexts (witness testimony) and political discourse (candidates retracting statements). The term is more formal than casual in both English and Portuguese.
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