confess

verb

kən-ˈfes How to pronounce confess (audio)
Definition of confessnext
1
as in to admit
to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid the thief confessed to dozens of robberies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to concede
to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly political prisoners, under threat of torture, forced to confess their guilt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb confess contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of confess are acknowledge, admit, avow, and own. While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

confessed a weakness for sweets

When could acknowledge be used to replace confess?

In some situations, the words acknowledge and confess are roughly equivalent. However, acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

Where would admit be a reasonable alternative to confess?

Although the words admit and confess have much in common, admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

admitted the project was over budget

When can avow be used instead of confess?

While the synonyms avow and confess are close in meaning, avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about.

avowed that he was a revolutionary

In what contexts can own take the place of confess?

While in some cases nearly identical to confess, own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself.

must own I know little about computers

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of confess During a meeting with investigators this year, a relative of Nickerson's told authorities that Nickerson had come to the person's home minutes after the killing and confessed. —Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 3 June 2025 Arnault confessed to intense curiosity about how Anderson will interpret the legacy of Dior, whose founder ignited postwar Paris with his extravagant, full-skirted New Look and whose brief career ended with his death in 1957. —Miles Socha, Footwear News, 2 June 2025 There were others who passed through: Tom Brady, along with PSG fan and NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who confessed to having grown up playing as Henry on FIFA. —Pablo Maurer, New York Times, 1 June 2025 Flynn tracks down the woman, who confesses that she was driven to the border and provided with a house and job. —Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for confess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confess
admit
Verb
  • Once admitted, students receive a decade-long commitment of support through high school.
    — Julia Brodsky, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • The admission is $8, with anyone younger than 15 admitted for free.
    — Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
Definition of admit

Browse Nearby Words

confers (on)
confess
confessed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Confess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confess. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on confess

Nglish: Translation of confess for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Some Data About 'Datum'

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All