professes

verb

present tense third-person singular of profess
1
as in pretends
to present a false appearance of professed friendship while secretly plotting revenge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in declares
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
3
as in insists
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 professes Harry Styles professes his love for techno music via a hat during a walk in North London on June 25. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 All proudly professes himself as a man of faith. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 2 June 2026 After the massive trauma crisis is resolved, Owen professes his desire to be with Teddy and move to Paris, where Teddy was considering a once-in-a-lifetime research position. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 7 May 2026 Vance professes to be ‘obsessed’ with UFO files Trump appears skeptical about the existence of extraterrestrial life. — Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026 Instead of a mutual parting of ways, Howard professes his love for Nancy and proposes that the two be together. — Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026 Trump often professes his support for farmers. — Anthony Pahnke, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026 The upcoming exhibition's contemporary edge professes the importance of displaying Native American art of the present, to resist the erasure of living, thriving Indigenous American cultures and communities. — Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 26 Feb. 2026 In this context, improving pay and addressing disparities will be a formidable undertaking for a mayoral administration that professes a commitment to economic justice. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for professes
  1. pretends
  2. declares
  3. insists
  4. assumes
  5. asserts
  6. alleges
  7. simulates
  8. proclaims
Verb
  • At one point, though, Jon Hamm does the voice of the mayor but there’s a robot who pretends to be him and is essentially wearing a mayor-skin suit.
    — Marah Eakin, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
  • And Brand New Day pretends to tell that story, for about 20 minutes.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of pretends
Verb
  • If Sullivan declares a mistrial, the prosecution will then have to decide whether to retry or dismiss the case.
    — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Below that line, oil can only be legally released if the President formally declares a severe domestic or international energy supply emergency.
    — Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of declares
Verb
  • Israel insists this is allowed under the latest ceasefire agreement.
    — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • But that sympathy can’t quite make up for the galling fact of Nelson’s sons, now teenagers stuck in limbo as a father figure stubbornly insists on courting further ruin.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of insists
Verb
  • As the force gradually assumes responsibility for police patrols, Haitian police will be able to redeploy to support operations in Kenscoff, the international force said.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The problem is that the stock's valuation already assumes all of that keeps going, at a moment when the growth driver behind it (the AI-era power generation boom) is facing its first regulatory pushback.
    — Tony Zhang, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of assumes
Verb
  • In addition to hurting consumers, Bird asserts that the uncertainty, along with Paramount’s $7 million ticking fee, will pull down an industry that’s just starting to get back on its feet.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Civilizationism asserts that the United States ought to interfere in Europe’s affairs.
    — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of asserts
Verb
  • Shelley alleges her superior, Woodie Dixon, Golden State’s chief legal officer, was not present for her termination meeting, violating team policy.
    — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The lawsuit alleges four families with addresses in Mansfield, Georgia have had irreparable damage to their property and quality of life throughout the construction and operation of the Meta data center.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of alleges
Verb
  • The upcoming 2027 model will also be the first to feature E-Shift, an optional system that simulates the gear shifts of a combustion engine.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The offense works on the underneath passing tree while the defense simulates coverage rules and passing off cross-under routes.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of simulates
Verb
  • In turn, prosecutors are repeating their arguments that the defendant is a threat to more than paper goods and profits, as his attorney proclaims.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The bipartisan measure honors Jackie and proclaims that Friday September 4, 2026 is California Wildlife Day to honor her memory and celebrate the Golden State’s biodiversity.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of proclaims

Browse Nearby Words

professedly
professes
professing
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Cite this Entry

“Professes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/professes. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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