confess the truth

USAGE SUMMARY

"confess the truth" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to tell the truth about a particular situation or issue. For example, "If you have any information about the whereabouts of the missing artifact, I urge you to confess the truth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Any foe ensnared by this lasso, we are told, is obliged to confess the truth.

The New Yorker

Crowhurst spoke to his wife, but he was vague about his location and did not confess the truth of his predicament.

The Guardian

Even when Poe lands in solitary and is offered repeated opportunities to confess the truth about what happened in the mill building, he stoically resists.

The New York Times - Books

I would happily take credit for such disturbing masterpieces as "A Recent Martyr" and "Property," but my admiration for Martin's work usually makes me confess the truth.

The New York Times

Several months later, at Janine and Ryan's wedding reception, Stacey confesses her fear about Archie still being alive to Peggy, who tells Stacey that Archie is dead and that Bradley killed him, accidentally causing Stacey to confess the truth to her.

Wikipedia

A totally unbiased procedure to compel the data to "confess the truth" may be found in the Phenomenological Universalities (PUN) approach, recently proposed by P.P. Delsanto and collaborators [1] [4], which is briefly described in the Text S1.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

They confessed the truth: they were not sure either.

The New York Times

In 2000, de Sanctis confronted her mother, who broke down and confessed the truth.

The New Yorker

Then he piled rocks on you until you confessed the truth or got crushed.

The New Yorker

This is the rare situation in which confessing the truth could potentially be more harmful than remaining silent.

The New York Times - Magazine

But the following day, he confessed the truth to the authorities and requested 500 policemen to help him catch the loose beast.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "confess the truth" when you want to emphasize the act of admitting something that was previously hidden or denied, especially when it involves wrongdoing or a difficult revelation.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "confess the truth" can sound overly dramatic in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "tell the truth" or "be honest" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

Confess the truth functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of admitting or revealing something that was previously hidden or denied. According to Ludwig AI, this is a grammatically correct phrase used to urge someone to reveal what happened. Examples from Ludwig showcase it being used in news articles, books and wikis.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

40%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "confess the truth" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of admitting something previously hidden, often with implications of wrongdoing. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and while its frequency is rare, it appears in various contexts, including news, wikis, and scientific articles. When choosing this phrase, be mindful of the register, as it can sound dramatic in casual settings. For alternatives, consider options such as "admit the truth" or "tell the truth", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

admit the truth

A more direct synonym, focusing on conceding that something is true.

come clean

An idiomatic expression meaning to confess fully and honestly.

reveal the truth

Focuses on making the truth known, without necessarily implying a confession.

disclose the truth

Similar to "reveal the truth", emphasizing the act of uncovering something.

acknowledge the truth

Focuses more on recognizing and accepting the truth rather than explicitly admitting it.

recognize the truth

Similar to "acknowledge the truth", emphasizing the recognition of truth.

own up to the truth

Implies taking responsibility for the truth, especially if it involves admitting a mistake.

divulge the truth

Suggests revealing something previously hidden or secret.

unveil the truth

Suggests a gradual or dramatic revelation of the truth.

say the truth

A simpler way to express speaking truthfully, lacking the connotation of admitting wrongdoing.

FAQs

How can I use "confess the truth" in a sentence?

You can use "confess the truth" when you want someone to admit something they were previously hiding, like, "I urge you to confess the truth about what happened that night."

What is a less formal way to say "confess the truth"?

Less formal alternatives include "tell the truth", "be honest", or "come clean". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "admit the truth" and "confess the truth"?

While similar, "confess the truth" often implies admitting to something wrong or shameful, whereas "admit the truth" is a more general acknowledgement.

When is it appropriate to use "confess the truth"?

Use "confess the truth" when you want to emphasize the act of admitting something significant that was previously hidden, especially when there's a moral or ethical dimension involved.