coming clean
Revealing the truth
Coming clean is confessing or admitting something previously hidden—typically wrongdoing, deception, or an uncomfortable truth.
The phrase suggests removing the dirt of dishonesty: After years of lying about the affair, he finally came clean to his wife.
Someone who comes clean accepts the consequences of honesty over continued concealment.
Entry or confession
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- truth-tellingCommunicating only facts
- unburdeningRelieving oneself of weight
testimony · owning up · fessing up · spilling · revealing · divulging · self-incrimination · laying bare
Moral self-reproach
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- regretSorrow over past actions
relief · catharsis · unburdening · shame · redemption · reconciliation · atonement · absolution
Accordance with reality
- exposureState of being unprotected
- unveilingAct of first revealing
- unmaskingRevealing what's hidden
- uncoveringRevealing something hidden
discovery · realization · epiphany · eye-opener · awakening · illumination · transparency · full disclosure
Unimpaired mental state
- detoxSubstance removal process
- rehabAddiction treatment program
- addictionCompulsive substance reliance
- interventionPurposeful involvement to change course
twelve-step · sponsor · relapse · withdrawal · recovery · sober · abstinence · rock bottom
admission
Entry or confession
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- truth-tellingCommunicating only facts
unburdening · testimony · owning up · fessing up · spilling · revealing · divulging · self-incrimination · laying bare · opening up
guilt
Moral self-reproach
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
regret · relief · catharsis · unburdening · shame · redemption · reconciliation · atonement · absolution · healing
truth
Accordance with reality
uncovering · discovery · realization · epiphany · eye-opener · awakening · illumination · transparency · full disclosure · moment of truth
sobriety
Unimpaired mental state
- detoxSubstance removal process
- rehabAddiction treatment program
- addictionCompulsive substance reliance
intervention · twelve-step · sponsor · relapse · withdrawal · recovery · sober · abstinence · rock bottom · amends
- disclosurerevealing, disclosing, disclosure, disclose, divulge
- honestyhonesty, truthfulness, candor, sincerity, dishonesty
- admitting thingsconfessing, acknowledging, conceding, owning up, disclosing
- confessionconfession, absolution, admission, acknowledgment, declaration
- admissionsapplication, acceptance letter, admissions, application deadline, admissions committee
- dutiesduty, task, obligation, moral obligation, responsibility
coming cleancovering up
Hiding wrongdoing from others
lying · concealing · keeping quiet · stonewalling · deceiving
coming cleandenying
Refusing to acknowledge
deflecting · passing the buck · doubling down · pointing fingers · scapegoating
come, comes, came, coming, clean, cleans, cleaned, cleaning, cleaner