confessed to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confessed to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when someone admits to committing a wrongdoing or a crime. Example: "He confessed to stealing the money from the cash register."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(He confessed to the crime).

The New York Times

They confessed to being revolutionaries.

The New York Times

They usually confessed to being spies.

The New Yorker

He has confessed to the charges.

Independent

When it ended, Ellison confessed to Rose.

The New Yorker

Online, they confessed to missing each other.

The New York Times

Cannon falsely confessed to a murder.

The Guardian

"I confessed to live," he said.

The New York Times

He confessed to being a fighter.

The New York Times

He confessed to another one.

The New York Times

"I can't read," he confessed to Henry.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "confessed to", ensure the context clearly indicates an admission of wrongdoing or something that is generally considered negative. Avoid using it for neutral or positive revelations.

Common error

Avoid using "confessed to" when a simpler, more neutral term like "said", "mentioned", or "revealed" would be more appropriate. Overusing "confessed to" can create an unnecessarily negative tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confessed to" functions as a verb phrase indicating an admission or acknowledgment of something, typically a wrongdoing or a secret. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used when someone admits committing a crime or wrongdoing. Examples show its usage in news and media contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "confessed to" is a verb phrase used to indicate the act of admitting something, often a wrongdoing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and very commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts. While it can be used in neutral settings, it often implies a sense of guilt or responsibility. When writing, consider whether a more neutral term like "admitted to" or "revealed" might be more appropriate. Remember to use it when the context clearly indicates an admission of wrongdoing or a negative revelation to avoid sounding unnecessarily accusatory.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

admitted to

Replaces "confessed" with a more general term for acknowledging something, potentially without the implication of wrongdoing.

acknowledged

A more formal way of saying admitted, implying a public or official recognition.

came clean about

Suggests a complete and honest admission, often after a period of concealment.

owned up to

An informal way of saying admitted, often used for minor wrongdoings.

fessed up to

Very informal synonym for 'confessed to'.

revealed

Implies making something known, which could include a confession but isn't limited to it.

disclosed

Similar to 'revealed' but suggests a more formal or official setting for the disclosure.

professed to

More formal term, could mean both admitting to something or declaring a belief.

testified to

Suggests providing evidence or a formal statement about something.

avowed

A formal way to declare or admit something, often with strong conviction.

FAQs

How to use "confessed to" in a sentence?

"Confessed to" is used to indicate that someone has admitted to doing something, typically something wrong or embarrassing. For example, "He "confessed to" the crime" or "She "confessed to" feeling nervous before the presentation".

What can I say instead of "confessed to"?

You can use alternatives like "admitted to", "acknowledged", or "owned up to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "confessed to" or "confessed"?

"Confessed to" is generally preferred when specifying what was confessed. "Confessed", without "to", is grammatically correct but less specific and often implies confession to a higher authority (e.g., a priest).

What's the difference between "confessed to" and "admitted to"?

"Confessed to" typically implies admitting to something wrong or illegal, whereas "admitted to" can be used for any kind of admission, even if it's not related to wrongdoing. Therefore, "confessed to" has a stronger connotation of guilt or shame.