PROFESS Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

profess

verb

prə-ˈfes

Definition of profess

as in to pretend

to present a false appearance of professed friendship while secretly plotting revenge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to declare

to state clearly and strongly the lonely woman professed her love in a series of letters to the soldier

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to insist

to state as a fact usually forcefully he professed his innocence to anyone who would listen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 profess Holmes continuously professed her innocence alongside partner Billy Evans before being hauled off to prison to serve an 11-year sentence. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026 Though Le Soleil professed strong public health beliefs, the parents and the daycare share a commercial relationship, not one related to joining together for First Amendment activities, Brailsford said. — Idaho Statesman, 23 Sep. 2026 Erosion along the 3-mile shoreline topped 60% in August and narrowed the beach to a point even Tybee lifers professed to have never seen. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 19 Sep. 2026 In the following episode, Maggie professes her love to Lizzie. — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for profess

Recent Examples of Synonyms for profess

Verb

Lee ingratiates himself by pretending to be interested in becoming a CO himself — attracted to the manliness and the glamor.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
In a news release, police said that 25-year-old Baldwin Park resident Juan Carlos Amaya contacted the teenage girl via Snapchat and began talking to her while pretending to be 17 years old.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of pretend

Verb

The office declared that the doctrine covers not only official advisers, but can also expand to cover outside associates consulted by the president in certain circumstances.

— Perry Stein, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026
The Houthis, angry over the longstanding Saudi blockade on them, declared their own blockade on the kingdom.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of declare

Verb

While officials insist the demolitions are a non-negotiable step toward revitalizing the corridor along Old National Highway, the families and owners left in the wake of the bulldozers say true recovery remains a distant promise.

— La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
There is a distinction, of course, between insisting on witnesses and staging a spectacle.

— Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of insist

Verb

The film follows a Polish burglar who assumes the identity of a dead stranger’s girlfriend, with unexpected results.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2026
And, of course, anyone who remembers the optimistic hordes streaming up Michigan Avenue after Barack Obama made his victory speech for president of the United States in Grant Park well knows the local benefits of a Chicagoan assuming the presidency.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of assume

Verb

Moriarty's office said rejection killings are a form of femicide in which women are targeted for asserting autonomy over their bodies.

— Jason Rantala, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Expect Bass at tonight’s debate to try and assert her dominance early with equal part offense against Raman and defense of her record.

— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of assert

Verb

The attorneys also hoped the litigation would lead to changes in workplace safety practices that German-Oden alleged remained dangerous.

— Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026
State prosecutor María Elena Andrade alleged that the attackers wanted to steal the tires from the foreigners’ pickup truck and that the victims resisted.

— Fabiola Sánchez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of allege

Verb

Its use during the exercise simulated an attack against an opposing naval force.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Principled Technologies' WebXPRT 4 browser test uses HTML5, JavaScript, and WebAssembly workloads to simulate tasks ranging from photo enhancement and OCR scans to sales graphs and online homework.

— Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of simulate

Browse Nearby Words

profanity

profess

professed

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Style

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

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Synonyms of profess

verb

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