o_); as, one _confesses to_ a weakness for
confectionery. The chief present use of the word, however, is in the
sense of making known to others one's own wrong-doing; in this sense
_confess_ is stronger than _acknowledge_ or _admit_, and more specific
than _own_; a person _admits_ a mistake; _acknowledges_ a fault;
_confesses_ sin or crime. Compare APOLOGY; AVOW.

Antonyms:

cloak, deny, disown, hide, screen,
conceal, disavow, dissemble, mask, secrete,
cover, disguise, dissimulate, repudiate, veil.

* * * * *

CONFIRM.

Synonyms:

assure, fix, sanction, substantiate,
corroborate, prove, settle, sustain,
establish, ratify, strengthen, uphold.

_Confirm_ (L. _con_, together, and _firmus_, firm) is to add firmness or
give stability to. Both _confirm_ and _corroborate_ presuppose something
already existing to which the confirmation or corroboration is added.
Testimony is _corroborated_ by concurrent testimony or by circumstances;
_confirmed_ by _established_ facts. That which is thoroughly _proved_ is
said to be _established_; so is that which is official and has adequate
power behind it; as, the _established_ government; the _established_
church. The continents are _fixed_. A treaty is _ratified_; an
appointment _confirmed_. An act is _sanctioned_ by any person or
authority that passes upon it approvingly. A statement is
_substantiated_; a report _confirmed_; a controversy _settled_; the
decision of a lower court _sustained_ by a higher. Just government
should be _upheld_. The beneficent results of Christianity _confirm_ our
faith in it as a divine revelation.

Antonyms:

abrogate, cancel, overthrow, shatter, upset,
annul, destroy, shake, unsettle, weaken.

Prepositions:

Confirm a statement _by_ testimony; confirm a person _in_ a belief.

* * * * *

CONGRATULATE.

Synonym:

felicitate.

To _felicitate_ is to pronounce one happy or wish one joy; to
_congratulate_ is to express hearty sympathy in his joys or hopes.
_Felicitate_ is cold and formal. We say one _felicitates_ himself; tho
to _congratulate_ oneself, which is less natural, is becoming prevalent.

Antonyms:

condole with, console.

Prepositions:

Congratulate one _on_ or _upon_ his success.

* * * * *

CONQUER.

Synonyms:

beat,