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
-
Rusty recognized the severity of the situation and admitted her to a mental hospital.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026 -
However, after less than a year since inking the deal, Avelo has admitted that the program became too costly and complex to continue.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After the killings, Andrea called 911 and confessed.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
6 Jan. 2026
-
James Earl Ray confessed to shooting King and was sentenced to 99 years in prison.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Elhawary acknowledged the billionaire tax proposal is a complicating factor in discussions about taxes, which is already a politically fraught issue.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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City leaders acknowledged Wednesday that some residents and business owners may not feel as safe as the numbers would suggest.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Kinloch conceded the election in a short speech to his supporters Tuesday night.—
Corey Williams,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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Sinclair, Ripley conceded, has experienced the downside of YouTube TV’s growth, including blackouts of its affiliated regional sports networks.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
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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 10 Jan. 2026.
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