acknowledge

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb acknowledge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of acknowledge are admit, avow, confess, and own. While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

When is it sensible to use admit instead of acknowledge?

While in some cases nearly identical to acknowledge, admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

admitted the project was over budget

When could avow be used to replace acknowledge?

Although the words avow and acknowledge have much in common, avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about.

avowed that he was a revolutionary

In what contexts can confess take the place of acknowledge?

The words confess and acknowledge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

confessed a weakness for sweets

When is own a more appropriate choice than acknowledge?

The words own and acknowledge can be used in similar contexts, but own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself.

must own I know little about computers

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of acknowledge Personnel and educational policies that recognize the value of diversity and acknowledge past injustices are under withering assault. Kevin Sack, Time, 3 June 2025 Following reporting by The Times, the State Bar acknowledged receiving more than 200 complaints against Girardi dating to the 1980s. Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025 Caltrans’ parent agency, the California State Transportation Agency, has acknowledged this phenomenon. Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2025 Without mentioning Means by name, Adams outlined his position in a May 22 post on X. Adams acknowledged that no explicit federal law mandates the surgeon general be a licensed physician. Joey Garrison, USA Today, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for acknowledge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acknowledge
Verb
  • The admission is $8, with anyone younger than 15 admitted for free.
    Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
  • Once admitted, students receive a decade-long commitment of support through high school.
    Julia Brodsky, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Verb
  • The scene at the start of the episode, when Dina takes Ellie’s shirt off to tend to her wounds and Ellie confesses to Dina about what Joel did, is so sweet and vulnerable.
    Adam B. Vary, Variety, 26 May 2025
  • She was forced to confess on national television to crimes against the state, which included having ties to an unlikely combination of the first Trump Administration and communist groups.
    Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • Many economists argue that trade deficits do not matter, and even proponents concede that doing so can cause short-term pain.
    Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025
  • Conte’s side conceded just 27 goals in 38 league games, the strongest defensive record in Serie A and 18 fewer than Inter.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Snyder agreed that weather remains a major concern for summer travel, and the usual advice for dealing with that applies.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 29 May 2025
  • Viewed from within China, things had been looking up after the world’s two largest economies agreed to dramatically roll back steep tariffs – a conciliatory step in a trade war that had threatened the entire global trading system.
    Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 29 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Acknowledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acknowledge. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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