1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fess (up)
Verb
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Janet admitted lying on her welfare application and avoided further questions using the Fifth Amendment, according to The New York Times.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026 -
The approach, Black Thought admits, is indeed intentional and aimed at cultivating an organic expansion of the festival's appeal.—
Ime Ekpo,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Carina McCue testified that her husband had confessed to raping their oldest daughter, who was still a minor at the time of the fire.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
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Presented with an opportunity to finally confess his feelings to Nikki, our man screws the metaphorical pooch.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Lewis openly acknowledged the sport’s inherent danger.—
Russ Bynum,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
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User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Verb
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According to some analyses, the rule led to more defensive and cautious play from players too afraid to concede the game-winning goal, despite the intention of the rule to encourage more exciting play in extra time.—
Kierra Frazier,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
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Novo Nordisk acknowledges the side effects without conceding the label needs to say more.—
Ryan Brennan
June 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fess (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fess%20%28up%29. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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