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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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for owning (up)
Verb
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The two erupt in argument, in misunderstanding, with John confessing his anger at his lot.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026 -
First there was Norwegian’s Sturla Holm Lægreid confessing to cheating on his girlfriend during a live interview after winning the bronze medal and tearfully begging her to come back (shockingly, humiliating his ex on national television didn’t work).—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Radical transparency means admitting mistakes Armedangels prides itself on using only chlorine-free wool from certified organic farms.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Feb. 2026
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The case was settled out of court in 2022, with Andrew admitting no wrongdoing.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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“Owning (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/owning%20%28up%29. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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