profess

verb

prə-ˈfes How to pronounce profess (audio)
Definition of professnext
1
as in to pretend
to present a false appearance of professed friendship while secretly plotting revenge

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2
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
3
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
  1. pretend
  2. declare
  3. insist
  4. assume
  5. assert
  6. allege
  7. simulate
  8. proclaim
Verb
  • Smart did not enter pleas to charges of being armed, or pretending to be armed, in a way that may cause fear and with making an unlawful threat.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Lee uses this to his advantage, pretending to be a pidgin-speaking Chinese immigrant to protect himself from white people’s suspicion and mistrust.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 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
  • The administration insists its strategy of inflicting economic pain is working.
    — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Putin has long insisted that Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which Russia has tried — and failed — to fully capture over more than four years of war have always been Russian.
    — Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 23 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
  • But experts believe Kim's sister has been asserting her authority recently, too, and appearances like this week's are part of that effort.
    — Anna Coren, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Joseph Hill, the director of the Center for Black Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University, asserted that BASL is generally treated as more of a dialect than a language.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 22 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
  • This testing simulated the extreme temperatures, shaking and even the sounds that the spacecraft will experience from launch to landing.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The third stage, Jalan said, uses digital twins that simulate scenarios across more variables than a human team can work through, producing action plans in hours rather than weeks.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of simulate
Verb
  • But this particular reality show tries to justify its controversial existence by proclaiming its seriousness with regards to psychology, philosophy, and current events.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Just this week, luminaries like Neil Young and Hideo Kojima came out of the woodwork to proclaim the film a misunderstood masterpiece.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of proclaim

Browse Nearby Words

profanity
profess
professed
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Cite this Entry

“Profess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profess. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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