1
as in to admit
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to confess
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 fess (up)
Verb
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By its final years, the hall mostly hosted dancing, admitting men for 50 cents and women free of charge.—
Graham Womack
May 2,
Sacbee.com,
2 May 2026 -
The Vikings won’t admit it, but this sure looks like a rebuilding year.—
Charley Walters,
Twin Cities,
2 May 2026
Verb
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However, Bryant’s uncle, Raymond Bryant, testified during the other men’s criminal trial that his nephew had confessed to the shooting.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2026
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The prints matched another man who had confessed to his ex-girlfriend, and Monson was released.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Well, as Kwan later acknowledged, the Guardians rank 28th in the aggregate.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Dreeben, the Justice Department veteran, acknowledges that in this case, lots of innocent people were driving to and from places within the geofence line.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cole Allen, the suspect in the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner shooting, conceded to remain detained pending further legal proceedings in his case, his attorney said at his detention hearing on Thursday.—
Alexander Mallin,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
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Regardless, against an offensive machine as efficient as Cleveland’s, those are the shots the Raptors will concede.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fess (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fess%20%28up%29. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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