1
as in admitted
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in confessed
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 fessed (up)
Verb
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On June 12, kids 12 and under will be admitted free.—
Linda Zavoral,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026 -
In another shocking revelation, former Everton midfielder Li Tie admitted paying rival teams to help two clubs win promotion to the Chinese Super League during managerial spells between 2015 and 2019.—
Reagan Yip,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Shortly after he was arrested, Marrs confessed to the murder and alleged that he was inebriated and broke into Erickson's home to steal money.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
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That same day, the then-Prince Charles had confessed his adultery on television.—
Diego Parrado,
Vanity Fair,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Cruz acknowledged the awkwardness of convening a hearing on the topic of college sports while larger global crises erupt.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
3 June 2026
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This time around, Sibony acknowledged that the sculptures aren’t all displayed exactly as found.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Konate made 42 appearances — 31 in the Premier League — helping his side keep the second strongest defensive record in the division behind Arsenal with 41 goals conceded.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
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Aledo sophomore starting pitcher Tempe Perry conceded 13 hits, 11 earned runs and five walks.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fessed (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fessed%20%28up%29. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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