admitted stealing

USAGE SUMMARY

"admitted stealing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to indicate that someone has confessed to a theft or other crime. For example, "The suspect admitted stealing money from the bank."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

"He admitted stealing three pairs that day," Detective Kim said.

The New York Times

Cindy admitted stealing drugs from A.V.M.T., and claimed to have completed a federal diversion program.

The New Yorker

The two admitted stealing hospitality money intended for union use, and taking vacations with it.

The New York Times

Kwiatkowski admitted stealing painkillers and replacing them with saline-filled syringes tainted with his blood.

The Guardian

A guard has admitted stealing two Georgia O'Keeffe paintings from two galleries and one has been recovered.

The New York Times

In 2007, the McLaren Mercedes team was fined $100 million after it admitted stealing technical secrets from its rival Ferrari.

The New York Times - Sports

A dealer who admitted stealing 100 rare antique maps was ordered yesterday to pay $2.3 million in restitution.

The New York Times

Dean - who admitted stealing painkillers the night before the fire - had previously denied the murder charges, changing his plea on the first day of his trial.

Independent

The wife of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff says the couple tried to kill themselves after he admitted stealing billions of dollars in the largest Ponzi scheme in history.

Independent

She has admitted stealing the narcotic, Demerol, and replacing it with saline, but has no memory of whether she used infected needles during the process, they said.

The New York Times

The defendant, Matthew Pugh, had admitted stealing $300 from a Monmouth County mall, but he denied using force, the legal definition of the more serious crime of robbery.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "admitted stealing", ensure the context clearly indicates what was stolen. Be specific to avoid ambiguity. For example, "He admitted stealing company funds" is clearer than "He admitted stealing."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "admitted stealing". For instance, "He admits stealing" might be grammatically correct in some contexts, but it shifts the focus to a current admission, potentially losing the impact of a past confession.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "admitted stealing" functions as a verb phrase where "admitted" is the main verb and "stealing" is a gerund, acting as the direct object. It indicates the act of confessing to theft. Ludwig examples confirm its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "admitted stealing" is a common and grammatically sound verb phrase used to indicate that someone has confessed to theft. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is frequently found in news and media sources. Alternative phrases like "confessed to theft" or "owned up to stealing" can be used depending on the context and desired level of formality. When using "admitted stealing", ensure the context clearly identifies what was stolen to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confessed to theft

Replaces "admitted stealing" with a verb and noun construction, focusing on the act of theft.

owned up to stealing

Uses a phrasal verb to convey the act of admitting guilt, adding a more informal tone.

pleaded guilty to theft

Indicates a formal admission of guilt in a legal context.

acknowledged the theft

Shifts the focus to acknowledging the act of theft, rather than the act of stealing.

conceded to stealing

Implies a reluctant admission of guilt, often after pressure or evidence.

avowed to stealing

Formally declared or admitted to stealing, carrying a sense of solemnity.

fessed up to stealing

Employs a colloquial expression for admitting guilt, suitable for informal contexts.

took responsibility for the theft

Highlights acceptance of accountability for the act, rather than direct admission.

came clean about the theft

Suggests a complete and honest disclosure of involvement in the theft.

accepted blame for the theft

Focuses on the acceptance of culpability, emphasizing responsibility rather than the act of confessing.

FAQs

How to use "admitted stealing" in a sentence?

Use "admitted stealing" to indicate that someone has confessed to the act of theft. For example: "The suspect "admitted stealing" the jewelry."

What can I say instead of "admitted stealing"?

You can use alternatives like "confessed to theft", "owned up to stealing", or "pleaded guilty to theft" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "admitted to steal" instead of "admitted stealing"?

No, "admitted to steal" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is ""admitted stealing"", where "stealing" functions as a gerund (a verb acting as a noun).

What's the difference between "admitted stealing" and "acknowledged the theft"?

"Admitted stealing" implies a direct confession to the act, while "acknowledged the theft" focuses on recognizing the occurrence of the theft, without necessarily implying personal involvement. "Acknowledged the theft" can also mean someone other than the thief is recognizing the theft took place.