Confess — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /kən-ˈfes/ con·fess

Meaning & Definition of Confess

Confess (verb)

  1. to tell or make known (something, such as something wrong or damaging to oneself), admit
  2. to acknowledge (sin) to God or to a priest
  3. to receive the confession of (a penitent)

Confess (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid

    "the thief confessed to dozens of robberies"

    similar: admit, cop (to) (slang), fess (up), own (up)
    related: blab, talk, tattle, babble, spill
    near: clam up, hush, quiet (down), shut up

  2. to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly

    "political prisoners, under threat of torture, forced to confess their guilt"

    similar: acknowledge, admit, agree, allow, concede, fess (up), grant, own (up to), come clean (about)
    related: disburden, unburden, unload, affirm, avow, confirm, profess, accept, recognize, yield, announce, break, broadcast, communicate, declare, disclose, divulge, impart, proclaim, publish, reveal, spill, tell, unveil, betray, blab, expose, give away, inform, leak, rat, squeal, talk, tattle, tip (off), warn, wise (up), breathe, say, whisper
    opposite: deny
    near: disallow, disavow, disclaim, disown, contradict, dispute, gainsay, negate, negative, rebut, refute, reject, repudiate, conceal, cover (up), hide, obscure, veil, kid (oneself)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Confess

The most common words with a similar meaning to Confess:

Slang: cop (to)
admit, fess (up), own (up), acknowledge, agree, allow, concede, grant, own (up to), come clean (about)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Confess

Words with the opposite meaning of Confess:

deny

Related Words for Confess

blab, talk, tattle, babble, spill, disburden, unburden, unload, affirm, avow, confirm, profess, accept, recognize, yield, announce, break, broadcast, communicate, declare, disclose, divulge, impart, proclaim, publish, reveal, tell, unveil, betray, expose

Near Antonyms of Confess

clam up, hush, quiet (down), shut up, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disown, contradict, dispute, gainsay, negate, negative, rebut, refute, reject, repudiate, conceal, cover (up), hide, obscure, veil, kid (oneself)

Word Forms of Confess

Inflections: confessed, confessing, confesses

Derived words: confessable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Confess

Middle English confessen "to admit, confess, (of a priest) hear a confession," borrowed from Anglo-French confesser (also continental Old French), derivative of confés "confessed, shriven," going back to Latin confessus, past participle of confiteor, confitērī "to admit (a fact, the truth of a statement or charge), reveal," from con- con- + fateor, fatērī "to accept as true, acknowledge, profess," probably a verbal derivative based on Indo-European *bhh2-to- "spoken" or *bhh2-t- "who speaks," from the verbal base *bheh2- "speak, say," whence also Latin for, fārī "to speak, say" ban:1

First known use: 14th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Confess

What does "Confess" mean?

"Confess" means to tell or make known (something, such as something wrong or damaging to oneself), admit. As a verb, it is defined as: to tell or make known (something, such as something wrong or damaging to oneself), admit. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Confess"?

Other words for "Confess" include admit, cop (to), fess (up), own (up), acknowledge, agree, allow and concede. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Confess" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Confess"?

There are 52 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Confess". Common alternatives include admit, cop (to), fess (up), own (up), acknowledge, agree, allow, concede, grant and own (up to).

What is the opposite of "Confess"?

Antonyms of "Confess" include deny. Near antonyms include clam up, hush, quiet (down) and shut up.

How do you use "Confess" in a sentence?

Examples of "Confess" in a sentence: "the thief confessed to dozens of robberies"; "political prisoners, under threat of torture, forced to confess their guilt".

Is "Confess" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Confess" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Confess"?

"Confess" is pronounced /kən-ˈfes/ and divided into syllables as con·fess.

What is the origin of the word "Confess"?

"Confess" comes from Middle English confessen "to admit, confess, (of a priest) hear a confession," borrowed from Anglo-French confesser (also continental Old French), derivative of confés "confessed, shriven," going back to Latin confessus, past participle of confiteor, confitērī "to admit (a fact, the truth of a statement or charge), reveal," from con- con- + fateor, fatērī "to accept as true, acknowledge, profess," probably a verbal derivative based on Indo-European *bhh2-to- "spoken" or *bhh2-t- "who speaks," from the verbal base *bheh2- "speak, say," whence also Latin for, fārī "to speak, say" ban:1. First known use: 14th centuryt.