FESS Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

fess (up)

verb

ˈfes

Definition of fess (up)

as in to admit

to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly he fessed up to breaking the antique vase only after his guilt was obvious

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to confess

to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid at first he denied everything, but eventually he realized that he had no choice but to fess up

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for fess (up)

Verb

Palacios, breaking down in tears, admitted Capador was the one who did the hiring.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Reflecting on 12 years as a business — four of those with KC area locations — Harb admits that the brand has come a long way.

— Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of admit

Verb

Under cross-examination, Palacios acknowledged that all his communications came via Duberney Capador Giraldo and Germán Alejandro Rivera García, who served as co-leaders of the Colombian squad.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
Throughout those three days, FBI Special Agent Bryan Witt, who was assigned to help investigate the matter, candidly acknowledged to the court that the case had not been handled like any other in his career.

— Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of acknowledge

Verb

Indeed, Laster’s 142-page opinion concedes the legitimacy of SB 21 and its applicability to this case.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026
Shortly before the news conference, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass conceded the race to challenger Nithya Raman.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of concede

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.

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fessing (up)

fess (up)

fest

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Style

“Fess (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fess%20%28up%29. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of fess (up)

verb

Example Sentences

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