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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fesses (up)

Verb

Harrow School admits only boys and prepares its students for A-levels, Harrow New York is co-ed and offers an International Baccalaureate curriculum.

— Ashley Baker, Vanity Fair, 22 Sep. 2026
Anti-mafia prosecutor Alessandra Cerreti, who has persuaded dozens of women to testify against crime families across all Italy’s crime syndicates, admits the risks are high.

— Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of admits

Verb

Things are suddenly different, starting at work, where the gallery director confesses to noticing him for the first time and a punky feminist artist requests his involvement in her upcoming show.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
The morning after Kylie confesses her love to the devoted Gideon (Xolo Maridueña), he’s hit by a car and sinks into a coma.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of confesses

Verb

Everyone in Shudder to Think says Wade got the ball rolling for the band’s reunion, which the drummer acknowledges grew out of his envy watching friends and contemporaries in groups like Velocity Girl and Pavement get back together.

— Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Like the earlier series, this one readily acknowledges how real-world horrors can puncture even a relative safe space like Hillman.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of acknowledges

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 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of fesses (up)

verb

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