OWNING (UP) Synonyms: 13 Similar and Opposite Words

owning (up)

verb

present participle of own (up)

as in confessing

to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid had a strong suspicion about which coworker stole her food from the office fridge, but the likely culprit refused to own up

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for owning (up)

Verb

To her, there’s no shame in airing out your baggage and confessing your feelings in a single song.

— Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
The film featured 24 Israeli officers and soldiers effectively confessing to war crimes with one even conceding that what was being done to the Palestinians was a genocide.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of confessing

Verb

One case was dropped, and others were settled without the university admitting wrongdoing.

— Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026
Anthony Kazmierczak, 56, also received three years of supervised release with orders to avoid contact with Omar, after admitting the assault but struggling to explain his motives.

— Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of admitting

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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owning

owning (up)

owning (up to)

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“Owning (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/owning%20%28up%29. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of owning (up)

verb

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