1
as in admits
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 confesses
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 fesses (up)
Verb
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Grint admits that this recent shift towards genre may well a subconscious a push-back against his most high-profile role.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026 -
The flagship campus in Austin admits roughly around 27–30 % of applicants overall, though that number varies significantly between Texas residents and out-of-state applicants.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When Lucy confesses to sleeping with Evan, Pippa’s insults for Lucy could rival even some of Stephen’s greatest hits.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2026
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But strangely, the 28-year-old confesses the transition was relatively smooth.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The show typically acknowledges what appropriate and then focuses on delivering the broadcast with steadiness.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
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Public health thrives when every sector acknowledges and respects each other’s role, inviting collaboration to create environments where everyone has a fair opportunity to lead a healthy life.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Going into Wednesday’s games, the Lakers rank 27th in opposing field goal percentage and 24th in defensive rating, an estimate of the amount of points a team concedes across a 100-possession span.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
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McDermott avoids houseplants for a simple house but concedes that any small, tidy plant that doesn't require much upkeep would be fine.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
4 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fesses (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fesses%20%28up%29. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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