acknowledge, admit, own, avow, confess mean to disclose against one's will or inclination.

acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself.

avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about.

confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

assert, declare, affirm, protest, avow mean to state positively usually in anticipation of denial or objection.

assert implies stating confidently without need for proof or regard for evidence.

declare stresses open or public statement.

affirm implies conviction based on evidence, experience, or faith.

protest emphasizes affirming in the face of denial or doubt.

avow stresses frank declaration and acknowledgment of personal responsibility for what is declared.