CANT has multiple meanings: as a noun, it refers to insincere or hypocritical talk, specialized jargon, or a slanting surface. As a verb, it means to tilt or slope. In Scrabble, CANT scores 6 base points and offers excellent extension possibilities.
Yes. CANT is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 6 points in Scrabble, 8 in Words With Friends and 7 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | C | A | N | T | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
CANT is a remarkably versatile word with distinct meanings across different contexts. In its most common usage, "cant" refers to hypocritical and sanctimonious talk, particularly religious or moral platitudes expressed insincerely. This meaning captures the essence of empty rhetoric—words that sound meaningful but lack genuine conviction or substance.
The word also denotes specialized language or jargon used by particular groups. Thieves' cant, for instance, was a secret language used by criminals in medieval England. Today, we might refer to professional jargon as "cant"—the specialized vocabulary that excludes outsiders. This usage highlights how language can both unite insiders and alienate those outside the group.
In its physical sense, "cant" means a slope, tilt, or oblique surface. Architects speak of walls built at a cant, shipbuilders describe a vessel's cant, and engineers calculate the cant of railway tracks on curves. As a verb, "to cant" means to tilt or tip something at an angle. This technical usage appears frequently in construction, engineering, and design contexts.
The word "cant" has a complex etymology with multiple origins reflecting its various meanings. The "hypocritical speech" sense derives from Latin "cantare" (to sing), through the notion of "singing" the same moral tune repetitively and insincerely. This emerged in the 1500s, possibly influenced by the chanting of monks and friars who begged using formulaic religious phrases.
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of CANT.
Hooks: front SCANT; back CANTO, CANTS, CANTY.
Words inside CANT: 9 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: ACTCANCATANTTANANATNATA. See all words from CANT.