professing

verb

present participle of profess
1
as in pretending
to present a false appearance of professed friendship while secretly plotting revenge

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in declaring
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 insisting
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 professing For graduates pessimistic about AI’s implications for the labor market, claims professing its value feel inauthentic. — Evan Clarkson, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026 The finale ended with Malcolm finally professing his feelings for Lori. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 July 2026 In recent campaign communications, all three Democrats running to become the next governor of Kansas have cited internal data professing themselves to be leading their primary competition. — Matthew Kelly updated June 26, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026 Carolla then turned more serious, professing his lifelong love of the medium. — City News Service, Daily News, 28 May 2026 After professing an oath of faithfulness to observe the customs of the cathedral, the archbishop may place a hand upon it or kiss it. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2026 The brothers discussed that game on their Einfach Mal Luppen podcast the week, with Toni professing a fondness for Dan Burn’s agricultural style. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026 Columbia Acting President Claire Shipman wrote in a morning email to students and faculty the Department of Homeland Security gained access to the Manhattan building by professing to be searching for a missing person. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026 In response, Carlson sent Goldberg a series of hostile texts professing ignorance and warning Goldberg not to make his criticism public. — Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for professing
  1. pretending
  2. declaring
  3. insisting
  4. assuming
  5. asserting
  6. alleging
  7. simulating
  8. proclaiming
Verb
  • But pretending botanical kratom can’t cause dependence is also dishonest.
    — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Commenters will often take the joke further, by pretending to take the joke seriously and suggesting that those filmed be canceled.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pretending
Verb
  • Moore Russell celebrated with supporters Tuesday evening on the shores of Lake Orlando, declaring that the result showed people at the ballot box can overcome money.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Iran, declaring the strait under its control, has attacked dozens of ships that tried to to travel the waterway via the north coast of Oman.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of declaring
Verb
  • The Prussian within us wants to force everything into the open, insisting that anyone with nothing to hide should be willing to put everything on display.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, airlines are insisting on custom designs to stand out.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of insisting
Verb
  • Branch has similarities to Xavier Worthy, and that gives him the chance to be another WR4 with weekly boom upside … assuming Tagovailoa eats some spinach for that arm or Michael Penix returns under center.
    — Jake Ciely, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Larry Berg is just months away from assuming his new role as Major League Soccer’s next commissioner.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of assuming
Verb
  • Some lawmakers expressed disapproval of the move, asserting that these products often fall into the hands of minors.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The platform has already sued New York, Massachusetts, Washington, New Mexico and Wisconsin, asserting that states cannot apply their gambling laws to the platform's sports event contracts.
    — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of asserting
Verb
  • The group of seven lost their lawsuit against the publisher last month after alleging that the publications unlawfully gathered information for their reporting.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The timing is combustible The launch lands weeks after Apple sued OpenAI, alleging theft of trade secrets and confidential information about upcoming products.
    — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of alleging
Verb
  • My own view is that the bill should have more restrictive testing requirements around edge cases—for instance, simulating power outages or major emergencies—before driverless vehicles can be deployed.
    — Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Critically, their lawyer scattered crumpled gum wrappers in the trash and on the floor, simulating recent activity from multiple prospective buyers.
    — David J. Moore, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of simulating
Verb
  • Her son Spencer, 5, could be heard proclaiming his hunger in the back of the video and is seen grabbing a few slices of Parmesan cheese prepped for the salad.
    — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
  • Carlson, who had just released a documentary called The End of Men, devoted hours of airtime to proclaiming Tate’s innocence; so did the right-wing podcaster Candace Owens.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of proclaiming

Browse Nearby Words

professes
professing
profession
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Cite this Entry

“Professing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/professing. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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