Synonyms of confess

confess

verb

kən-ˈfes 

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

• admit
• own (up)
• cop (to)
• fess (up)
• talk
• spill
• tattle
• blab
• babble

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shut up
• quiet (down)
• hush
• clam up

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

• admit
• concede
• acknowledge
• agree
• announce
• grant
• reveal
• disclose
• recognize
• allow
• own (up to)
• tell
• confirm
• say
• accept
• fess (up)
• come clean (about)
• declare
• affirm
• profess
• proclaim
• divulge
• unload
• avow
• publish
• inform
• warn
• talk
• betray
• expose
• communicate
• yield
• impart
• spill
• unburden
• broadcast
• whisper
• disburden
• breathe
• tip (off)
• give away
• leak
• wise (up)
• unveil
• blab
• squeal
• tattle
• break
• rat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deny
• disclaim
• contradict
• reject
• disallow
• negative
• dispute
• refute
• hide
• conceal
• negate
• disavow
• repudiate
• rebut
• cover (up)
• disown
• gainsay
• veil
• obscure
• kid (oneself)

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

Recent Examples of confess

The girls urged Flynn to confess to the murder and repent for his sins. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2026

In 1995, Christa Pike confessed to murdering and torturing her classmate Colleen Slemmer. — Robert Gebelhoff, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026

Throw in some divine intervention with the first Chicago pope confessing his allegiance to the South Siders, and the Cinderella story has captured the nation’s imagination. — Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

His lawyers say he was tortured into confessing and argue his detention targeted his advocacy for Palestinian rights. — Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026