1
as in admitting
to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid
the thief confessed to dozens of robberies
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in acknowledging
to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly
political prisoners, under threat of torture, forced to confess their guilt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confessing
However, Bundy reportedly failed to recall if Aime was among his victims while confessing to several homicides throughout Utah.
—
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
District Attorney Vern Pierson thinks meeting with Denise – in particular – may have been Muller's objective for confessing all along.
—Lauren Clark, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
California metal vets Neurosis have surprised-released An Undying Love for a Burning World, their first album in a decade, and first since co-founder Scott Kelly left the band after confessing to domestic abuse.
—Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
The emergence of the mysterious key in Homer and Plumb’s possession has spooked him off from confessing any further.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
So did confessing to a crime, oddly.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
After finally confessing to their bosses about these secret missions, they were allowed to continue.
—Costa Beavin Pappas, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The two erupt in argument, in misunderstanding, with John confessing his anger at his lot.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
First there was Norwegian’s Sturla Holm Lægreid confessing to cheating on his girlfriend during a live interview after winning the bronze medal and tearfully begging her to come back (shockingly, humiliating his ex on national television didn’t work).
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
District Attorney Vern Pierson thinks meeting with Denise – in particular – may have been Muller's objective for confessing all along.
—Lauren Clark, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
California metal vets Neurosis have surprised-released An Undying Love for a Burning World, their first album in a decade, and first since co-founder Scott Kelly left the band after confessing to domestic abuse.
—Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
The emergence of the mysterious key in Homer and Plumb’s possession has spooked him off from confessing any further.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
So did confessing to a crime, oddly.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
After finally confessing to their bosses about these secret missions, they were allowed to continue.
—Costa Beavin Pappas, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The two erupt in argument, in misunderstanding, with John confessing his anger at his lot.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
First there was Norwegian’s Sturla Holm Lægreid confessing to cheating on his girlfriend during a live interview after winning the bronze medal and tearfully begging her to come back (shockingly, humiliating his ex on national television didn’t work).
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confessing
Verb
-
Nardi wasn’t shy about admitting how tough the recovery process was both physically and mentally.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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In 2004, a former journalist for El Mercurio published a letter in The Clinic admitting her failure to report on human rights violations and remembering colleagues who had been disappeared for their work.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When Trump won, Smith moved to abandon the cases, acknowledging a longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot be indicted or prosecuted while in office.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
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And by Thursday, the California Legislature followed suit, with the aim of acknowledging the broader contributions of agricultural workers.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confessing. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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