A disavowal or taking back of a previous assertion.

synonyms: recantation, retraction.

Roget 536: negation, abnegation; denial; disavowal, disclaimer; abjuration; contradiction, contravention; recusation [Law], protest; recusancy etc. (dissent) 489; flat contradiction, emphatic contradiction, emphatic denial, dementi [Lat.].    qualification etc. 469; repudiation etc. 610; retraction etc. 607; confutation etc. 479; refusal etc. 764; prohibition etc. 761.    ... show more

Roget 607: change of mind, change of intention, change of purpose; afterthought.    tergiversation, recantation; palinode, palinody^†; renunciation; abjuration^†, abjurement; defection etc. (relinquishment) 624; going over etc. v.; apostasy; retraction, retractation^†; withdrawal; disavowal etc. (negation) 536; revocation, revokement^†; reversal; repentance etc. 950; redintegratio amoris [Lat.].    coquetry; vacillation etc. 605; backsliding; volte-face [Fr.].    turn coat, turn tippet^†; rat, apostate, renegade; convert, pervert; proselyte, deserter; backslider; blackleg, crawfish [U.S.], scab [Slang], mugwump [U.S.], recidivist.    time server, time pleaser^†; timist^†, Vicar of Bray, trimmer, ambidexter^†; weathercock etc. (changeable) 149; Janus.    ... show more

Roget 757: resignation, retirement, abdication, renunciation, abjuration; abandonment, relinquishment.   

Dutch: afzwering, herroeping