OWN Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'own' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of own are acknowledge , admit , avow , and confess . While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself. // must own I know little about computers

Q: When can 'acknowledge' be used instead of 'own'?

Although the words acknowledge and own have much in common, acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed. // acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

Q: When is it sensible to use 'admit' instead of 'own'?

While in some cases nearly identical to own , admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications. // admitted the project was over budget

Q: Where would 'avow' be a reasonable alternative to 'own'?

The synonyms avow and own are sometimes interchangeable, but avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about. // avowed that he was a revolutionary

Q: In what contexts can 'confess' take the place of 'own'?

In some situations, the words confess and own are roughly equivalent. However, confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt. // confessed a weakness for sweets

own

verb

Definition of own

as in to have

to keep, control, or experience as one's own we own a modest house and an equally modest car

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb own contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of own are acknowledge, admit, avow, and confess. While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself.

must own I know little about computers

When can acknowledge be used instead of own?

Although the words acknowledge and own have much in common, acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

When is it sensible to use admit instead of own?

While in some cases nearly identical to own, admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

admitted the project was over budget

Where would avow be a reasonable alternative to own?

The synonyms avow and own are sometimes interchangeable, but avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about.

avowed that he was a revolutionary

In what contexts can confess take the place of own?

In some situations, the words confess and own are roughly equivalent. However, confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

confessed a weakness for sweets

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of own The data firm’s proprietary MIV figure tallies the impact of relevant media placements on online, social and print, inclusive of paid, owned and earned mediums. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 At one point, Marshall either owned or co-owned more than 1,000 acres of land near the Quivira preserve, the AP reported. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026 Serving classic Venetian food and its signature Bellini, Harry Cipriani is run by the same family that owns Harry’s Bar in Venice. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026 The people who own the system review it, while the decision’s owner never sees the ticket. — Maman Ibrahim, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for own

Recent Examples of Synonyms for own

Verb

At the Fondation Cartier, people will have free access to them.

— Gameli Hamelo, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Sullivan denied that the law would cut Medicaid for Alaskans, saying the Affordable Care Act had a greater impact and raised insurance premiums in the state drastically.

— Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of have

Verb

In Oregon, a 16-year-old cannot legally purchase a shotgun but may legally possess one if it was transferred or provided by a parent and may lawfully temporarily possess it for hunting, target practice or shooting sports.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
And when addressing the fact that there would be no allocution or explanation from Kohberger, the judge also questioned whether Kohberger even possessed the capacity to say something truthful.

— Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of possess

Verb

More sports news Boxing champion Daniel Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title with a brutal second-round stoppage of Fabio Wardley on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London.

— Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026
The Connecticut Business and Industry Association’s annual business survey, released in September, found that some 72% of respondents reported having difficulty finding and retaining workers, with skill gaps being a notable part of the problem.

— P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of retain

Verb

People went through the admission and security checkpoints without issues, and the event’s early evening acts enjoyed mostly dry stages with light, intermittent rain.

— Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
Patel seemed to enjoy the process, even though many people did not answer their doors and most of those who did had not heard about the election at all.

— Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of enjoy

Browse Nearby Words

owing to

own

owned

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Own.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/own. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of own

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

A Most Incredible 'Self-Own'

What does 'pwn' mean?

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of own

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Phrases Containing own

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to own

A Most Incredible 'Self-Own'

What does 'pwn' mean?

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes