Synonym Chooser

How does the verb admit contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of admit are acknowledge, avow, confess, and own. While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

admitted the project was over budget

When would acknowledge be a good substitute for admit?

The words acknowledge and admit can be used in similar contexts, but acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

When can avow be used instead of admit?

The words avow and admit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Where would confess be a reasonable alternative to admit?

While the synonyms confess and admit are close in meaning, confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

confessed a weakness for sweets

When is it sensible to use own instead of admit?

In some situations, the words own and admit are roughly equivalent. However, 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 admit Apple settled the case earlier this year for $95 million without admitting any wrongdoing. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 8 May 2025 Johnston readily admits that she was first drawn to weightlifting as another scheme to lose weight. Mara Gordon, NPR, 8 May 2025 And here’s the part nobody wants to admit — hackers are watching all of this unfold. Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 He was finally admitted and studied design and engineering at night while finishing high school. Jaimie Ding, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for admit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for admit
Verb
  • In 1989, Erik confessed to his psychologist, whose mistress later reported it to the police.
    Emily Blackwood, People.com, 14 May 2025
  • Eddie Cicotte Another member of the disgraced 1919 White Sox, Cicotte confessed to participating in the scheme to fix the World Series.
    Matt Moret, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • What other big inmate escapes received national attention?
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • The movie received mostly negative reviews, but is still the highest-earning Final Destination film, nabbing $186 million at the worldwide box office, per Box Office Mojo.
    Keith Langston, People.com, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • Speaking to Variety during the Cannes Film Festival, Leonidas Christopoulos, CEO of Creative Greece, concedes that there have been bureaucratic challenges since the organization’s launch.
    Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 18 May 2025
  • Now, after dispute the accuracy of the video for several months, the defense concedes that the footage is disturbing as an example of domestic violence.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Left-handedness and certain neurological disorders could go hand-in-hand, a new study revealed, though the researchers and others acknowledged potential limitations.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2025
  • In contrast, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the U.S. and took to social media to express gratitude to Trump.
    Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Russia and Ukraine agreed to a prisoner swap May 16 in Istanbul during their first in person talks in 3 years.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • This told us whether the pan could handle what our editors agreed was a typical amount of meat for a casual weeknight dinner.
    Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Admit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/admit. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on admit

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