Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

admit

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of admit

1 to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly
  • the host of the talk show eventually admitted that she hadn't actually read the book
  • you can't bring yourself to admit your mistakes
Synonyms of admit

acknowledge, agree, allow, concede, confess, fess (up), grant, own (up to)
Words Related to admit

disburden, unburden, unload

affirm, avow, confirm, profess

accept, recognize, yield

announce, break, broadcast, communicate, declare, disclose, divulge, impart, proclaim, publish, reveal, spill, tell, unveil

betray, blab, expose, give away, inform, leak, rat, squeal, talk, tattle, tip (off), warn, wise (up)

breathe, say, whisper
Phrases Synonymous with admit

come clean (about)
Near Antonyms of admit

disallow, disavow, disclaim, disown

contradict, dispute, gainsay, negate, negative

rebut, refute, reject, repudiate

conceal, cover (up), hide, obscure, veil

kid (oneself)
Antonyms of admit

deny
2 to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to
  • she was admitted to Harvard
Synonyms of admit

enter, receive, take
Words Related to admit

entertain, welcome

fellowship

confirm, ratify
Near Antonyms of admit

decline, disallow, disapprove, dismiss, refuse, reject

blackball, blacklist, ostracize

banish, deport, exile, expel, oust, throw out
Antonyms of admit

ban, bar
3 to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid
  • I admit to some suspicions about the new neighbors
Synonyms of admit

confess, cop (to) [slang], fess (up), own (up)
Words Related to admit

blab, talk, tattle

babble, spill
Near Antonyms of admit

clam up, hush, quiet (down), shut up

Synonym Discussion of admit

acknowledge, admit, own, avow, confess 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
admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.
    • admitted the project was over budget
own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself.
    • must own I know little about computers
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
confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.
    • confessed a weakness for sweets

Learn More about admit

  1. See words that rhyme with admit Dictionary: Definition of admit Medical Dictionary: Definition of admit Spanish Central: Translation of admit Nglish: Translation of admit for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of admit for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up admit? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

scavenger

Listen to the pronounciation of scavenger

one that collects or salvages junk

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. folderol Rees-Mogg dismisses Brexit changes

  2. reticent Mueller's team hesitant to testify

  3. codify Dem candidates call to protect Roe v. Wade

SEE ALL
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games