confessed
Came fully clean
Confessed describes something openly acknowledged, especially wrongdoing or something potentially embarrassing.
A confessed murderer has admitted to the crime.
A confessed romantic owns the label.
The word often carries a sense of admission against interest—you confess to things that might reflect poorly on you, not to virtues.
Accepted as true
- concededAdmitted defeat formally
- disclosedMade previously hidden known
- revealedMade visible or known
- declaredStated with authority
avowed · owned · divulged · professed · proclaimed · asserted · testified · communicated
Made visible or known
- disclosedMade previously hidden known
- exposedOut in open
- unburdeningRelieving oneself of weight
- confidantTrusted keeper of secrets
secrets · trust · intimacy · private · hidden · truth · whispered · confidential
Formal request or defense
- guilty pleaAdmitting criminal responsibility
- convictionFirmly held belief
- defendantParty facing charges
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
prosecution · verdict · sentence · indictment · self-incrimination · felony · misdemeanor · arraignment
Freed from a load
- catharsisPurification through emotional expression
- liberatedReleased from confinement
- lightenedMade less heavy
- freedReleased from confinement
exhale · solace · reprieve · cleansed · release · unshackled · peace · ease
Violation of divine law
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
atonement · forgiveness · sacrament · penitence · shrift · repentance · reconciliation · booth
One showing remorse
- contriteFeeling guilt over misdeeds
- ashamedFeeling guilt and disgrace
- regretfulFeeling sorrow over actions
- apologeticExpressing regret for wrongdoing
repentant · remorseful · self-reproach · sorrowful · shamefaced · chagrined · abashed · guilty conscience
acknowledged
Accepted as true
declared · avowed · owned · divulged · professed · proclaimed · asserted · testified · communicated · expressed
revealed
Made visible or known
- disclosedMade previously hidden known
- exposedOut in open
- unburdeningRelieving oneself of weight
confidant · secrets · trust · intimacy · private · hidden · truth · whispered · confidential · shameful
plea
Formal request or defense
- guilty pleaAdmitting criminal responsibility
- convictionFirmly held belief
- defendantParty facing charges
testimony · prosecution · verdict · sentence · indictment · self-incrimination · felony · misdemeanor · arraignment · sworn statement
unburdened
Freed from a load
- catharsisPurification through emotional expression
- liberatedReleased from confinement
- lightenedMade less heavy
freed · exhale · solace · reprieve · cleansed · release · unshackled · peace · ease · purged
sin
Violation of divine law
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
contrition · atonement · forgiveness · sacrament · penitence · shrift · repentance · reconciliation · booth · soul
penitent
One showing remorse
- contriteFeeling guilt over misdeeds
- ashamedFeeling guilt and disgrace
- regretfulFeeling sorrow over actions
apologetic · repentant · remorseful · self-reproach · sorrowful · shamefaced · chagrined · abashed · guilty conscience · rueful
vulnerable
Open to attack
transparent · open · brave · courageous · raw · authentic · fearful · anxious · exposed · defenseless
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
- speech verbssaid, says, asked, answered, replied
confesseddenied
Refused or disavowed
disavowed · repudiated · refused · disclaimed · contested
confessedconcealed
Made invisible deliberately
hid · suppressed · withheld · covered up · unconfessed
- confession of faithDoctrinal belief statement
- I confessAcknowledge one's wrongdoing
- deathbed confessionDisclosure made while dying
- confession boothEnclosed space for admitting sins
- false confessionUntrue guilt statement
- forced confessionStatement extracted under pressure
confess, confession, confessor, confessing, confesses, confessional, confessable, unconfessed, self-confessed