1
as in to admit
to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly
he fessed up to breaking the antique vase only after his guilt was obvious
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to confess
to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid
at first he denied everything, but eventually he realized that he had no choice but to fess up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fess (up)
Verb
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To admit to trying is to admit that great style is accessible—that it can be studied and practiced—rather than something only a select few possess.—
Daisy Maldonado,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2025 -
Heidenreich has denied involvement in his girlfriend's death, per the AAP, despite admitting that his stepfather — a former Cairns police officer — was friendly with a detective working on the murder case.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The suspect, Fahad Noori, who is originally from Afghanistan, purportedly confessed to investigators that the act was deliberate.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
3 Mar. 2025
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Ashraf Tawfik, 60, showed up at headquarters at 12:14 p.m. Friday and confessed, East Brunswick police said in a statement.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Across the Global South, even pro-American policymakers reluctantly acknowledge that Trump's strategy will force them to 'de-risk' from Washington and strengthen ties with China.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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Indeed, that risk is acknowledged in the document’s language.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The move inevitably would be divisive, as Shapiro conceded, and would likely be cast as political.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN,
6 Mar. 2025
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In four of the five matches the team has played this season, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris hasn’t conceded a goal.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Fess (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fess%20%28up%29. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
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