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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Phoebe Bridgers has never been shy about professing her love for mainstream country music. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026 For arrivals willing to submit to the experimental, ever-evolving social structure, and to the limitations that were placed on newcomers, the technologically superior Eiquans professed an indifference that amounted to a willing welcome. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026 The film follows André and Howery as two best friends who embark on a road trip to New York City so that André’s character can profess his love to his high school crush. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 This is not the first time that the trio of Boy Meets World alums have professed their frustrations with the reboot show since beginning their rewatch. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 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
  • The shooting prompted national media coverage, with news outlets in Georgia describing Brayden as an outgoing child and a fan of Spider-Man who loved playing as the superhero by pretending to shoot webs and jump around.
    — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Honor isn't pretending that the Magic 9 can go toe-to-toe with Hollywood-grade camera rigs.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of pretend
Verb
  • After the first Taibaan film, Srinuan borrowed Marvel’s habit of announcing a slate, declaring a universe before any scripts existed to push himself to keep working.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Its enduring contribution to the state, the university itself often declares, is rooted in the quality of the education students receive.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of declare
Verb
  • Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined around 20 other countries and the European Commission in a declaration insisting that AI remain under human control.
    — Stephen Pitt-Walker, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • While the case settled, Fairey had insisted his artistic transformation of an Associated Press photograph constituted fair use.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of insist
Verb
  • It was assumed that they had been caught in the blizzard, lost their way, got separated, and, finally, died in the snow.
    — Yasushi Inoue, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
  • However, the flight system encountered a technical fault when Fluctus misinterpreted air pressure fluctuations as a crash landing and prematurely declared an emergency apogee, assuming the rocket was beyond recovery.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of assume
Verb
  • Black asserts that the statements made by Garcia are false and that traveling to appear on national television to make such statements about the inquiry into Epstein’s crimes goes beyond the purview of a member of Congress.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Those statements were false and were made maliciously, Black asserts through his lawyers.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of assert
Verb
  • The lawsuit alleged that the facility violated the state's minimum wage and forced labor laws by paying detainees $1 a day to work at the facility, sometimes under threat of solitary confinement.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • OpenAI faces several lawsuits from state AGs and plaintiff attorneys, taking cues from the social media suits in alleging that the design of ChatGPT can pose risks to children.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of allege
Verb
  • Part of the research assignment was to figure out how to more efficiently extract carbon from deep seawater and add it to the shallow water near the coral to simulate rising ocean acidity.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Some examples include importing a long spreadsheet of customer records, simulating how an accounting batch will affect the general ledger before posting it or previewing the impact of a transaction on a project budget.
    — Steve Cangiano, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of simulate
Verb
  • Wendy has decided, in true Catholic fashion, that she will be redeemed by loudly proclaiming her suffering.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2026
  • President Andrew Jackson refused to proclaim one, citing the separation of church and state, so states and churches held their own.
    — Jim Downs, STAT, 30 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 11 Nov. 2026.

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