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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confessing
The couple starts confessing secrets.
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 Dec. 2025
The book chronicles Harpootlian’s firsthand experience prosecuting Gaskins, who was executed in 1991 after confessing to at least 13 murders.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 21 Dec. 2025
Splitsville, an anti-romantic comedy if there ever was one, opens with Adria Arjona's character confessing to her husband (Kyle Marvin) in a car ride that she's cheated on him and wants a divorce.
—Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
Much of the final season saw Steven frustrated with his longtime friend for confessing his love for Belly at the worst possible moment; in fact, many fans took to social media to voice their irritation over the rift between the duo — but the stars of the show couldn't help but take Steven's side.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Nov. 2025
Rebollido kept it up until confessing to law enforcement in early 2024.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
Nickerson was immediately terminated after confessing to the behavior, McKinzie wrote in an email to the congregation at the time.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2025
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 Dec. 2025
The book chronicles Harpootlian’s firsthand experience prosecuting Gaskins, who was executed in 1991 after confessing to at least 13 murders.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 21 Dec. 2025
Splitsville, an anti-romantic comedy if there ever was one, opens with Adria Arjona's character confessing to her husband (Kyle Marvin) in a car ride that she's cheated on him and wants a divorce.
—Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
Much of the final season saw Steven frustrated with his longtime friend for confessing his love for Belly at the worst possible moment; in fact, many fans took to social media to voice their irritation over the rift between the duo — but the stars of the show couldn't help but take Steven's side.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Nov. 2025
Rebollido kept it up until confessing to law enforcement in early 2024.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
Nickerson was immediately terminated after confessing to the behavior, McKinzie wrote in an email to the congregation at the time.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confessing
Verb
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Making room for levity is, then, a way of admitting the human—not through the granular and intimate detail that lends Ferrante’s novels their power but through a broader concession to nature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
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State officials agreed to pay $85,000 to the plaintiffs in that case without admitting wrongdoing, though the state law that previously banned gender identity discrimination is no longer in effect.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them.,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Miller went with a rotation different than his primary starters in the final 14 minutes and complimented the group’s fight while acknowledging the results weren’t pretty.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
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On Friday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s 86-year-old supreme leader who has been in power for 35 years, addressed the latest round of unrest, acknowledging the economic grievances at the heart of public anger.—
CNN Staff,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confessing. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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