ADMIT Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'admit' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of admit are acknowledge , avow , confess , and own . While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications. // admitted the project was over budget

Q: When would 'acknowledge' be a good substitute for 'admit'?

The words acknowledge and admit can be used in similar contexts, but acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed. // acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

Q: When can 'avow' be used instead of 'admit'?

The words avow and admit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Q: Where would 'confess' be a reasonable alternative to 'admit'?

While the synonyms confess and admit are close in meaning, confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt. // confessed a weakness for sweets

Q: When is it sensible to use 'own' instead of 'admit'?

In some situations, the words own and admit are roughly equivalent. However, own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself. // must own I know little about computers

admit

verb

əd-ˈmit

Definition of admit

as in to confess

to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly the host of the talk show eventually admitted that she hadn't actually read the book you can't bring yourself to admit your mistakes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to receive

to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to she was admitted to Harvard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to own (up)

to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid I admit to some suspicions about the new neighbors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb admit contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of admit are acknowledge, avow, confess, and own. While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

admitted the project was over budget

When would acknowledge be a good substitute for admit?

The words acknowledge and admit can be used in similar contexts, but acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

When can avow be used instead of admit?

The words avow and admit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Where would confess be a reasonable alternative to admit?

While the synonyms confess and admit are close in meaning, confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

confessed a weakness for sweets

When is it sensible to use own instead of admit?

In some situations, the words own and admit are roughly equivalent. However, 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 admit Netanyahu denies he was warned and has never admitted any kind of responsibility for the security failure. — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026 Sal Khan, who promised a personal AI tutor for every student on the planet, admitted this year that most students weren’t using it. — Dmytro Korchevskyi, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026 And so the students were just vastly more at risk than even at campuses where officials were willing to admit what actually goes on. — Rachel Cohen Booth, Vox, 23 Oct. 2026 Surcharge announcements and capacity decisions usually show up before the broader market admits conditions have changed. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for admit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for admit

Verb

After detectives confronted her with information from Hanfield, Arstil confessed that the two women were at the apartment complex that night looking to rob someone.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Disarmed by his stepson’s surprise appearance, Morgan confesses to being the cheater.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of confess

Verb

Retirees born on or after the 21st of a month will receive this payment on Wednesday.

— Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2026
Some voting laws have changed in Ohio since 2022, including the state eliminating its grace period for receiving mail ballots, a change that forces voters to return those ballots earlier.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of receive

Verb

Fielder is not conventionally attractive, concedes Breca, a 26-year-old bisexual man in Pennsylvania, but the filmmaker’s salt-and-pepper hair and stubble did something for Breca nonetheless.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Vena said the current task is proving service is strong enough to hold customers trying rail, simultaneously conceding that not all will stay.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of concede

Verb

Last month, the Kremlin acknowledged problems with food and medical supplies getting into Oleshky, saying its military was working to resolve them.

— Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
The incumbent senator acknowledged in a recent interview that the president’s visits to Kansas were vital to his reelection campaign.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of acknowledge

Verb

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear a case about the role race plays in middle school admissions, three years after a majority on the high court struck down affirmative action in college.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Most experts now agree that eggs are nutritionally valuable foods that can absolutely have a place in a healthy diet.

— Laura Solla, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of agree

Cite this Entry

Style

“Admit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/admit. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of admit

verb

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