confess

[ kuhn-fes ]

/ kənˈfɛs /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: confess / confessed / confesses on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to acknowledge or avow (a fault, crime, misdeed, weakness, etc.) by way of revelation.

to own or admit as true: I must confess that I haven't read the book.

to declare or acknowledge (one's sins), especially to God or a priest in order to obtain absolution.

(of a priest) to hear the confession of (a person).

to acknowledge one's belief or faith in; declare adherence to.

to reveal by circumstances.

verb (used without object)

to make confession plead guilty; own: to confess to a crime.

to make confession of sins, especially to a priest.

(of a priest) to hear confession.

OTHER WORDS FOR confess

2 grant, concede.

See synonyms for confess on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR confess

1 conceal.

2 deny.

See antonyms for confess on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of confess

1300–50; Middle English confessen<Anglo-French, Old French confesser<Medieval Latin confessāre, verbal derivative of Latin confessus, past participle of confitērī to admit, confess, equivalent to con-con- + -fitērī, combining form of fatērī to admit

synonym study for confess

1. See acknowledge.

OTHER WORDS FROM confess

con·fess·a·ble, adjectivecon·fess·ingly, adverbhalf-con·fessed, adjectivepre·con·fess, verb (used with object)

un·con·fessed, adjectiveun·con·fess·ing, adjective

How to use confess in a sentence

Maybe this is where I confess that I didn’t put much thought into how we would get through all this turkey, because I considered it as a big chicken, and about 30 percent of what I know about cooking involves using up leftover chicken and its stock.
20 Days of Turkey|Meghan McCarron|December 23, 2020|Eater
While I’m making enemies, I might as well confess that I was secretly hoping that Hall would come up just short of breaking Kastor’s illustrious record from 2006.
The Marathon Project Was a Predictable Thrill|Martin Fritz Huber|December 21, 2020|Outside Online
I confess I haven’t seen the latter two films but plan to soon.
The best A.I. movies and TV shows|Jeff|December 8, 2020|Fortune
Peter Humphrey, a British corporate investigator who has probed pharmaceutical corruption cases in China, called it “a bit extraordinary” that Sinovac emerged unscathed in 2017, despite its CEO confessing to bribery.
As China nears a coronavirus vaccine, bribery cloud hangs over drugmaker Sinovac|Eva Dou|December 4, 2020|Washington Post

I confess, it took me a while to warm up to Maisie Dobbs, the up-by-her-boot-straps private eye of Jacqueline Winspear’s bestselling British cozy mysteries.
The inspiration for Maisie Dobbs? Jacqueline Winspear’s memoir offers charming clues|Zofia Smardz|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
The numbers reinforce another article in the Post, in which cops confessed to “turning a blind eye” to minor crimes.
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown|Batya Ungar-Sargon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As for the search, which will soon resume, Soelisto confessed that “the capability of our equipment is not optimum.”
Did Bad Weather Bring Down AirAsia 8501?|Clive Irving|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
According to police, the driver later confessed to the crime.
Things Are Going Downhill Fast for Uber|Kyle Chayka|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Once he was wearing bracelets, Wright quickly confessed to knowing that “Jane Doe” was a minor, according to court papers.
The Navy ‘Hero’ Who Pimped an HIV-Positive Teen|M.L. Nestel|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After lunch one day, Hollande drove her back to her hotel in Limoges (he was headed to Tulle) and confessed his love.
Hell Hath No Fury Like Valerie Trierweiler, the French President’s Ex|Lizzie Crocker|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It must be confessed that he felt none too kindly towards Grandfather Mole.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
They were outnumbered, which was nothing new in the history of the country, but it must be confessed they were out-generaled, too.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Valence sent a woman, disguised as a beggar, to spy out the position; but Bruce saw through the dodge, and the spy confessed.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
It must be confessed that Jess held her breath while Henry struck one and peered about inside the car.
The Box-Car Children|Gertrude Chandler Warner
I was accompanied by a nervous friend from Iowa who confessed that he had been in an automobile but once before.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy

British Dictionary definitions for confess

confess

/ (kənˈfɛs) /

verb (when tr, may take a clause as object)

(when intr, often foll by to) to make an acknowledgment or admission (of faults, misdeeds, crimes, etc)

(tr) to admit or grant to be true; concede

Christianity, mainly RC Church to declare (one's sins) to God or to a priest as his representative, so as to obtain pardon and absolution

Derived forms of confess

confessable, adjective

Word Origin for confess

C14: from Old French confesser, from Late Latin confessāre, from Latin confessus confessed, from confitērī to admit, from fatērī to acknowledge; related to Latin fārī to speak

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

confess

OTHER WORDS FOR confess

OPPOSITES FOR confess

Origin of confess

synonym study for confess

OTHER WORDS FROM confess

Words related to confess

How to use confess in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for confess

Derived forms of confess

Word Origin for confess