fess (up)

verb

ˈfes How to pronounce fess (up) (audio)
Definition of fess (up)next
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fess (up)
  1. admit
  2. confess
  3. acknowledge
  4. concede
Verb
  • Reinbold admits that limited finances have previously restricted their participation.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Finding the Right Team Richardson admits that liberation from her darker days took soul searching and accountability.
    Essence, Essence, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of admit
Verb
  • Just hours after confessing his love to Teeter, ranch hand Colby (Denim Richards) comes to the rescue of Carter, a teen taken in by the Dutton ranch, when Carter is trapped and cornered in a stall by a troubled horse.
    Colleen Kratofil, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
  • Though White openly confessed to the murders, his real motivations for the killings were obscure.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2024
Definition of confess
Verb
  • Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO's director-general, acknowledged a malaria connection in most samples while noting the possibility of multiple illnesses at play.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
  • The department did acknowledge that the gun looks similar based on images and video from the scene and that the firearm will undergo ballistic testing, authorities told media.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of acknowledge
Verb
  • Gray declared victory and Duarte conceded late Tuesday as the final votes were tallied.
    Jared Gans, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Gray was ahead by 187 votes in the 13th Congressional District when Duarte conceded Tuesday evening — the closest margin in the country.
    Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
Definition of concede
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near fess (up)

fessing (up)

fess (up)

fest

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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 18 Dec. 2024.

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