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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fess (up)
Verb
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The hospital, which admitted Bolsonaro with high fever, sweating and chills, has also said that his inflammatory markers are increased.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026 -
In Rhode Island, again, public testimony is only admitted at the discretion of the committee chair.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Theah Loudemia Russell, 19, confessed to suffocating Harvey and attempting to suffocate another child, according to murder and assault charges.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
6 Mar. 2026
-
So did confessing to a crime, oddly.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After all, Payton only weeks ago acknowledged Denver could be proud of a 14-3 season and simultaneously take a sober view of it.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
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The Big East acknowledged after the game the officials blew the calls.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright erroneously posted — and then deleted — a message that the US Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the strait near Iran, only for the White House to concede no operation had occurred.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Kidman also stripped down, so to speak, in the conceding interview.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fess (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fess%20%28up%29. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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