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 Even though his only preseason success came on straight go balls that didn’t test his route running, coaches have professed faith in the 2025 third-round pick. — Chad Graff, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Inviting Fielder into their home to live with them and start recording their lives just 34 days before her incarceration, Holmes and her romantic partner, William ‘Billy’ Evans, profess her innocence on their own, intimate terms. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026 The exhibit, which professes to illustrate storytelling through art in its earliest manifestations, is a jarring introduction to a museum that houses 1,300 original works. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 El-Sayed and Piker have professed their abhorrence of anti-Semitism. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for profess

Recent Examples of Synonyms for profess

Verb

The leaders who were most effective could provide clarity to their teams without having to pretend to have all the answers.

— Tracy Nolan, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Also this year, Cohen’s press officer secretly was recorded by a woman who pretended to be on a date with him.

— Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of pretend

Verb

The Houthis began attacking Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure and declared a naval blockade against the kingdom.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
Legacy admissions hasn’t been declared unlawful under the tax code, and an admissions preference doesn’t prove a donation purchased admission.

— Jayson Weingarten, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of declare

Verb

Rather than insisting that these whales continue with their life, which is a human decision, perhaps they should be allowed to die gracefully and respectfully on their own.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
Cage solved my next problem by insisting that the way to discover new things is to overcome our dependence on our likes and dislikes, those supposed pillars of criticism.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of insist

Verb

The organization cannot assume the same roster will suddenly produce a different result, especially after enduring a franchise-record losing streak.

— Brandon Liguori, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026
Strycova won three titles with Czechia as a player before assuming the captaincy this year.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of assume

Verb

Strong will have to assert herself vocally, as well as with the ball.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026
Emirati prosecutors opened an investigation after a co-pilot stabbed his captain mid-flight, asserting jurisdiction over a crime that also concerns Saudi Arabia and Israel.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of assert

Verb

State police alleged that Betacourt was uncooperative and refused to comply with commands.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Kaepernick alleged that team owners colluded to keep him out of the league because of his protest and filed a grievance against the NFL in 2017, which ultimately ended in a settlement.

— Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of allege

Verb

Kasdin said Griffin hired a sound expert to simulate how much noise the helicopter would generate during takeoffs and landings.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
The business will feature Full Swing, which uses cameras and tracking technology to simulate a real-life golf experience.

— Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of simulate

Verb

Cottonseed boosters proclaimed a transformation of waste into wealth.

— Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
When Arisa proclaims herself a Faithful, Michael looks hilariously stunned, and Alan tells them to weep for the fall of innocence and the failure of justice.

— Alice Burton, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of proclaim

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 3 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of profess

verb

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