FESS Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

fess (up)

verb

ˈfes

Definition of fess (up)

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fess (up)

Verb

The hospital where Asho was being treated admitted 152 children with severe acute malnutrition in August, four of whom died, Jubbaland Health Minister Ismail Garas said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
On Sunday, there was no obvious sign that the pope had already been admitted.

— Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of admit

Verb

When his young son is ostensibly abducted for ransom on Halloween night, Mark must confess his financial ruin to his therapist wife, Abigail (Washington), who has actually been having an ongoing affair with a coworker.

— Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
Sounds like a good job for a ghost, driving guilty parties to confess.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of confess

Verb

The third suspect acknowledged receiving the paintings at his home and hiding them behind a wall built beneath a staircase after the theft.

— SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Tellingly, the network seemed to know the difference in its official response, acknowledging that the original piece contained errors.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of acknowledge

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.

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fessing (up)

fess (up)

fest

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“Fess (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fess%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fess (up)

verb

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