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
Relevance
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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But even Kerr, who as of last week still said Kuminga’s return to the lineup was a possibility, has admitted that Kuminga’s departure is likely, but refuted claims that he and Kuminga’s relationship has become frayed.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
15 Jan. 2026 -
The reality star admitted that a boob job was't a always a part of her near future.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Police said around the time of the arrest that one of the suspects confessed to the crime.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
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The 19-year-old suspect in Saturday’s attack was arrested at a hospital after his father called the FBI, saying his son confessed to him.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For example, Kshatriya acknowledged, the trio will not be able to carry out the spacewalk that Fincke and Cardman had been slated to execute.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
14 Jan. 2026
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Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security secretary, previously acknowledged that Ross was taken to the hospital after the shooting and was released the same day.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But under questioning from Cruz, Vladeck conceded that approving a nondisclosure order without any factual proffer would be inconsistent with a judge’s oath, if that hypothetical were true.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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Some peers, smart ones, have conceded the death of this tradition.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 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 19 Jan. 2026.
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