admit

verb

əd-ˈmit How to pronounce admit (audio)
Definition of admitnext
1
as in to confess
to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly the host of the talk show eventually admitted that she hadn't actually read the book you can't bring yourself to admit your mistakes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to receive
to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to she was admitted to Harvard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to own (up)
to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid I admit to some suspicions about the new neighbors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb admit contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of admit are acknowledge, avow, confess, and own. While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

admitted the project was over budget

When would acknowledge be a good substitute for admit?

The words acknowledge and admit can be used in similar contexts, but acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

When can avow be used instead of admit?

The words avow and admit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about.

avowed that he was a revolutionary

Where would confess be a reasonable alternative to admit?

While the synonyms confess and admit are close in meaning, confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

confessed a weakness for sweets

When is it sensible to use own instead of admit?

In some situations, the words own and admit are roughly equivalent. However, own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself.

must own I know little about computers

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of admit However, Radnor admitted that he was always intrigued by the writers' process despite not wanting to participate in it himself. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2025 Hegseth’s response has been to sack people around and run leak investigations, not admitting his own errors. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025 She was admitted again months later and had a pacemaker implanted. —Christine Pelisek, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025 Underground dog fighting brings harm hundreds of canines Dog fights gained international scrutiny after NFL quarterback Michael Vick admitted in 2007 to participating in the mélées. —Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for admit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for admit
  1. confess
  2. receive
  3. concede
  4. acknowledge
  5. agree
Verb
  • As the veteran investigator and his suspect began their drive, Jones confessed to Ford.
    — Lauren A. White, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Balmer turned himself in and allegedly confessed to the fire, according to search warrants.
    — Jared Kofsky, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of confess
Verb
  • The new restrictions, which have raised the risk of global shortages, require exporters of medium and heavy rare earths in question to receive licenses from China’s Ministry of Commerce.
    — Dylan Butts, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The Hagia Sophia receives an average of around 50,000 visitors daily and approximately 6-7 million annually, according to Istanbul Deputy Akturkoglu. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Associated Press and Danuta Hamlin of Fox News contributed to this report.
    — Ashley J. DiMella Fox News, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of receive
Verb
  • While results at the time tasted similar to the real thing, its inventors conceded that the texture didn’t quite work.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Berlin has changed a lot since Soho House opened here, Bryan conceded, when asked how the organization keeps its cachet after all these years.
    — Cathrin Schaer, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of concede
Verb
  • Walls acknowledges that the union may not ultimately be able to stop Newsom’s return-to-office order and convince the state to secure a raise.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The sheriff of Island County, Mark Brown, apologized to Fred and acknowledged, in a public report, that his own staff was responsible.
    — Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of acknowledge
Verb
  • Despite their differences, all agree on one thing: America's plummeting birthrate is a major problem, and, unless something changes, society may be doomed.
    — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Leonard agreed to testify as an expert witness, and warned in the filing that the Trump administration's blanket suspension of clearances held by Perkins Coie employees was reminiscent of programs from the 1950s, including during the Red Scare.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of agree

Phrases Containing admit

Browse Nearby Words

admissions
admit
admit (of)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Admit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/admit. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on admit

Nglish: Translation of admit for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words You Always Have to Look Up

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

Words You Always Have to Look Up

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All