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
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Dane admits that first sales trip spoiled him for life.—
Laura Ness,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026 -
On the phone, Miranda admits she’s known for a week, but agrees that what Shinia did was disgusting.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Alfie, my hero and king, and Sophie are in the marketplace, and Sophie confesses everything.—
Christina Grace Tucker,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
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But strangely, the 28-year-old confesses the transition was relatively smooth.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Universal’s longer guarantee of theatrical exclusivity, however, acknowledges that a meaningful big-screen run secures a better return on investment.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2026
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In one instance, Whitney acknowledges the pressures of their busy lives.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Although Art Recognition has collaborated with institutions like the Kunsthaus Zürich, Popovici concedes that galleries have little incentive to embrace technology that might cast doubt over their collections.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
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Sam, a food stylist, concedes that being in a wealthy suburban enclave may have led her to be a little more brash than usual.—
Nora DeLigter,
Curbed,
6 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fesses (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fesses%20%28up%29. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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