FESSES (UP) Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

fesses (up)

verb

present tense third-person singular of fess (up)

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

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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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for fesses (up)

Verb

Mets owner Steve Cohen admits that David Stearns’ track record in Queens has been inconsistent, but says the exec is safe through at least the end of his contract, which runs through the 2028 season.

— Levi Weaver, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Jordan admits that without the pet's real-time location, the dog could easily have been hit.

— Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026

Definition of admits

Verb

Emerald Isle, North Carolina, confesses its obvious charms—brilliant blue-green waters, a verdant maritime forest, and lush marshes—in its name.

— Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
Then Armand confesses to Molloy that, actually, he’s been in love with him for decades.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 July 2026

Definition of confesses

Verb

Goldman, who founded the group 10 years ago in the politically important Oakland County, acknowledges the changing dynamics of Democratic primaries.

— Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Damola Adamolekun, the youngest CEO the chain restaurant has ever seen at 37 years old, acknowledges the company's storied history with celebrity, and has been talking up the brand since taking over.

— Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of acknowledges

Verb

The media business always goes through some splitting of cells — meiosis and mitosis — but every industry leader concedes that consolidation is especially needed today.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 30 June 2026
The waiver concedes a major point of potential leverage at the start of these 60-day talks.

— Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 19 June 2026

Definition of concedes

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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fessed (up)

fesses (up)

fessing (up)

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“Fesses (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fesses%20%28up%29. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of fesses (up)

verb

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