fessing
Owning up now
Fessing is the present participle of fess, an informal verb meaning to confess or admit to something, almost always in the phrase fess up: After an hour of questioning, he finally started fessing up to everything.
The word is casual and suggests reluctant admission rather than voluntary disclosure.
Accepting as true
- owningBeing in possession
- concedingAcknowledging another's claim
- disclosingMaking information known
- divulgingRevealing concealed information
revealing · declaring · avowing · professing · affirming · admitting · unburdening · spilling
Guilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- regretSorrow over past actions
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
self-reproach · compunction · penitence · blame · self-accusation · pangs · wrongdoing · responsibility
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
absolution · expiation · reconciliation · amends · restitution · catharsis · purging · soul-searching
acknowledging
Accepting as true
- owningBeing in possession
- concedingAcknowledging another's claim
- disclosingMaking information known
divulging · revealing · declaring · avowing · professing · affirming · admitting · unburdening · spilling · leveling
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- regretSorrow over past actions
culpability · self-reproach · compunction · penitence · blame · self-accusation · pangs · wrongdoing · responsibility · accountability
penance
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
redemption · absolution · expiation · reconciliation · amends · restitution · catharsis · purging · soul-searching · cleansing
fessinghiding
Staying out of sight
concealing · covering up · denying · suppressing · withholding
fessingdenying
Refusing to acknowledge
lying · disavowing · repudiating · disclaiming · disputing
- fessing upAdmitting guilt or truth