Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

profess

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of profess

1 to present a false appearance of

  • professed friendship while secretly plotting revenge
Synonyms of profess

act, affect, assume, bluff, counterfeit, dissemble, fake, feign, pass (for), pretend, put on, sham, simulate
Words Related to profess

dissimulate, impersonate, let on, masquerade, play, playact, pose

forge, imitate

camouflage, conceal, disguise, mask

feint

malinger
Phrases Synonymous with profess

make believe

2 to state clearly and strongly

  • the lonely woman professed her love in a series of letters to the soldier
Synonyms of profess

affirm, assert, aver, avouch, avow, declare, guarantee, lay down
Words Related to profess

advance, advertise, boost, plug, promote, publicize

announce, blaze, call, proclaim, pronounce, say

accent, accentuate, emphasize, stress, underline, underscore

advocate, champion, defend, espouse, support, uphold

assure, convince, persuade

explain, justify, rationalize

reaffirm, reassert
Near Antonyms of profess

minimize, understate

disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook

3 to state as a fact usually forcefully

  • he professed his innocence to anyone who would listen
Synonyms of profess

affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, declare, insist, maintain, protest, purport, warrant
Words Related to profess

announce, broadcast, proclaim

argue, rationalize, reason

confirm, justify, vindicate

defend, persevere, support, uphold

reaffirm, reassert
Phrases Synonymous with profess

put forth
Near Antonyms of profess

abandon

disavow, disclaim, disown, negate, negative, reject, repudiate

challenge, dispute, question

confute, disprove, rebut, refute

contradict, counter
Antonyms of profess

deny, gainsay

Learn More about profess

  1. See words that rhyme with profess Dictionary: Definition of profess Spanish Central: Translation of profess Nglish: Translation of profess for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of profess for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up profess? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

epitome

a typical or ideal example

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. nebulous Lip reading, Brexit, and semantic uncertainty

  2. synergy Mueller files Cohen details.

  3. slumgullion From the broadcast of 'It Happened on Fifth Avenue'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games