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Definitions

own up

VERB
admit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accept affirm agree allow approve concede confirm declare disclose grant indicate permit recognize reveal talk tell
STRONG
accord acquiesce adopt avow bare communicate concur confide consent credit divulge enumerate expose let narrate number own proclaim profess recite relate spill tolerate uncover unveil yield
WEAK
bring to light cop a plea go into details let on make known open up subscribe to
Antonyms
STRONGEST
conceal contradict decline deny disagree disallow disapprove dispute dissent hide invalidate listen misunderstand oppose protest refuse reject repudiate veto
STRONG
argue cover differ disown keep object prevent secrete sell suppress withhold
WEAK
confute debar dismiss eject exclude expel gainsay oust repel shut
VERB
avow
Synonyms
STRONG
acknowledge admit affirm allow assert aver avouch concede confess declare grant maintain proclaim swear
WEAK
cross one's heart swear on bible swear up and down
Antonyms
STRONG
conceal condemn contradict deny disavow dispute dissent hide ignore refuse reject repudiate veto
WEAK
censure disclaim disown renounce
VERB
come clean
Synonyms
WEAK
acknowledge information admit confess confess all explain implicate oneself incriminate oneself make clean breast reveal spill
Antonyms
WEAK
hide hold secret
VERB
come out with
Synonyms
WEAK
acknowledge bring out chime in come clean declare deliver divulge lay open own say state tell throw out utter
Antonyms
WEAK
hide secret
VERB
concede
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accept admit allow capitulate cave in cede confess give up grant hand over quit relinquish surrender yield
STRONG
accord avow award ditto fold own waive
WEAK
bury the hatchet cry uncle fess up go along with go with the flow knuckle under let on play ball with say uncle throw in the towel yes one
Antonyms
STRONGEST
defend deny disallow disapprove dispute fight hold keep refuse reject repudiate veto win
WEAK
contradict disacknowledge disagree dissent
VERB
confess
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acknowledge assert blurt out concede confide declare disclose divulge profess prove recognize relate reveal
STRONG
affirm allow attest aver avow blow chirp evince finger fink grant leak manifest narrate own post sing snitch squeal unload vent
WEAK
clue in come clean come out dump on humble oneself let on level with make clean breast of open one's heart rat on sound off spill the beans spit out tip hand weasel
Antonyms
STRONGEST
conceal contradict deny disavow hide keep refuse reject repudiate secrete suppress
STRONG
condemn veto withhold
WEAK
disown mask
VERB
divulge
Synonyms
STRONGEST
admit blab communicate disclose give away leak publish reveal uncover
STRONG
betray broadcast declare discover exhibit expose gossip impart mouth proclaim promulgate spill spring tattle tell
WEAK
blow the whistle cough up fess up go public let hair down let slip open up spill the beans tip off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
conceal cover hide keep suppress withhold
STRONG
protect
WEAK
secrete
VERB
grant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accept accord allocate allot assign award bestow cede donate give invest permit transfer
STRONG
accede acknowledge acquiesce admit assume avow bless concede confer convey drop impart own present profess relinquish stake suppose surrender transmit vouchsafe yield
WEAK
agree to come across come around come through consent to gift with give a thumbs-up give in give out give the nod go along with shake on sign off on sign on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deny disagree disallow fight hold keep refuse reject take withhold
STRONG
conceal condemn contradict disapprove disavow dispute dissent hide protest refrain renounce repudiate veto
VERB
let on
Synonyms
WEAK
allow avow betray concede confess disclose divulge give away grant hint imply indicate let out make known mouth own reveal say spill suggest tell uncover unveil
Antonyms
WEAK
deny disacknowledge
VERB
own
Synonyms
STRONG
allow avow concede confess declare disclose grant recognize
WEAK
assent to come clean let on make clean breast of tell the truth
Antonyms
STRONG
conceal condemn deny disapprove disavow disclaim disown dispute hide refuse reject repudiate secrete
VERB
profess
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acknowledge admit affirm avow confess feign pretend proclaim stump
STRONG
allege announce asseverate aver avouch certify claim confirm croon depose dissemble fake maintain own predicate purport sing spiel spout state vouch
WEAK
act as if blow hot air come out constate cross heart get off chest get on soapbox make out open up say so soapbox swear on bible swear up and down talk big
Antonyms
STRONGEST
conceal deny disavow disown dispute hide refuse renounce repudiate
STRONG
be quiet contradict invalidate question reject

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The U.S. should own up to its good intentions.

From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026

Booker said Waltz “denied” and “deflected” rather than own up to his mistakes, something the New Jersey senator said is a “failure of leadership.”

From Salon • Jul. 15, 2025

It can in some cases promote a defensive culture, where people do not own up to their mistakes and lead to individuals being blamed rather than supported to improve.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2025

"I will own up to being a knucklehead at times, but the folks closest to me know that I keep my word."

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2024

On the other hand, she was certainly not about to own up.

From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl