1
as in admitting
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 confessing
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 fessing (up)
Verb
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Nardi wasn’t shy about admitting how tough the recovery process was both physically and mentally.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026 -
In 2004, a former journalist for El Mercurio published a letter in The Clinic admitting her failure to report on human rights violations and remembering colleagues who had been disappeared for their work.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, Bundy reportedly failed to recall if Aime was among his victims while confessing to several homicides throughout Utah.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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District Attorney Vern Pierson thinks meeting with Denise – in particular – may have been Muller's objective for confessing all along.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The deal involved more than 100 nondisclosure agreements, allowed 10 residents to buy homes in the megasite zone without acknowledging the houses were targeted for demolition and offered up to $27 billion in incentives to a semiconductor manufacturer that ultimately walked away.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Iannarelli suggested techniques such as listening actively, acknowledging frustration without agreeing, offering personal space, and adjusting the environment by inviting someone to sit down or step aside for a private discussion.—
Evonne Andris,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fessing (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fessing%20%28up%29. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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