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
Relevance
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
Examples Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fess (up)
Verb
-
Strength And Humility Showing vulnerability by admitting mistakes or seeking feedback demonstrates strength.—
Ajit Dodani,
Forbes,
9 Jan. 2025 -
Perhaps Steichen’s hesitancy to admit that comes, in part, from his owner thinking the team was on the brink of a breakthrough.—
James Boyd,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Andrew Lincoln's Mark comes to the door and without saying a single word, confesses his love for her through a series of cue cards.—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
People.com,
13 Jan. 2025
-
Then Kitty falls for Yuri and fellow student Min-ho confesses his feelings for Kitty.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Tesla submitted the recall on January 6th, which acknowledges faulty computers are in some of the most recent builds of Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X vehicles.—
Umar Shakir,
The Verge,
10 Jan. 2025
-
Poles promised to cast a wide net while acknowledging how important what comes next is for Williams.—
Adam Jahns,
The Athletic,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Having only conceded three goals in their last nine games, and never more than once in a match, Newcastle’s previous solidity crumbled.—
Chris Waugh,
The Athletic,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Schiraldi conceded his department could do a better job but argued the gaps in the system being questioned were from programs funded by entities other than DJS.—
Mikenzie Frost,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Jan. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Thesaurus Entries Near fess (up)
Cite this Entry
“Fess (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fess%20%28up%29. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share