1
as in admits
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 confesses
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 fesses (up)
Verb
-
Today the city’s own economic development director admits most of The Plaza’s retail sits empty.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2026 -
The approach, Black Thought admits, is indeed intentional and aimed at cultivating an organic expansion of the festival's appeal.—
Ime Ekpo,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
After 17 years behind bars, convicted for murdering his pregnant wife, Max is exonerated after someone else confesses to the crime.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
3 June 2026
-
Rafa confesses to eating chocolate in violation of his strict diet.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Yet voters weren’t swayed by Steyer’s money, seeing the donation as a rational response by a company deeply invested in California to a candidate who at least acknowledges basic energy reality.—
David Blackmon,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Novo Nordisk acknowledges the side effects without conceding the label needs to say more.—
Ryan Brennan
June 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Katie Porter concedes in race for governor.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
-
The other, correspondingly, concedes it.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Fesses (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fesses%20%28up%29. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
