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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fess (up)

Verb

Does this three-point configuration always admit a convex quadrilateral?

— Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026
One morning, guards came to the cell and told the women to line up and face the wall—standard protocol for when a new prisoner was being admitted.

— Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of admit

Verb

Cole joined the group but later confessed everything to Kacie, who laughed it off, allowing the couple to move past the incident before their wedding.

— Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
Also on Monday, the German confessed that the Valencia native’s plight influences how the attack lines up in 2026/2027.

— Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of confess

Verb

Asked about those changes and the growing scrutiny of the UFW's legacy, Huerta defended the organization's historic work on behalf of farmworkers while acknowledging the controversy surrounding Chavez.

— Darrielle Fair, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
The industry acknowledges the marketing power of social media but grapples with balancing publicity and guest privacy.

— Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of acknowledge

Verb

The lesson here – and one the NBCU-Peacock-YouTube deal concedes – is that a media company just isn’t the mountain that Mohammed goes to – the consumers are the mountain.

— Howard Homonoff, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Malawi scored and conceded four goals, Nigeria three, and Zambia two, leaving them still tied with head-to-head goal differentials of zero.

— Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 6 Aug. 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.

Browse Nearby Words

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 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of fess (up)

verb

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