1
as in pretending
to present a false appearance of
professed friendship while secretly plotting revenge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of professing
In the past two decades, self-expression has become a tacit expectation in many white-collar workplaces, with dress codes relaxing and companies professing interest in their employees’ lives and values.
—
Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
She was received by the religious community and took her religious name — Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt — in 1938 before professing her vows in 1945.
—Shannon Ryan, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Warning signs, per federal guidance, can include someone quickly professing love, claiming to live far away, requests to move conversations to other apps and having bad grammar.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Brady concluded his own explanation by professing his love of the game.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Despite professing fidelity to free enterprise, conservatives have repeatedly backed government interventions that advantage corporations.
—Allan J. Lichtman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
This is the month to really practice living beyond the binary instead of just professing it.
—Colin Bedell, Them., 17 Sep. 2025
James Dobson, once the most powerful tentpole of the Religious Right and a kingmaker for politicians professing faith, died Thursday, his family announced.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 21 Aug. 2025
In the Netflix dramedy Too Much, a brokenhearted American, Jess, makes the move across the pond, inspired in part by daydreams of stately castles, rolling green hills and dashing gentlemen professing their ardent admiration.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2025
Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
She was received by the religious community and took her religious name — Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt — in 1938 before professing her vows in 1945.
—Shannon Ryan, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Warning signs, per federal guidance, can include someone quickly professing love, claiming to live far away, requests to move conversations to other apps and having bad grammar.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Brady concluded his own explanation by professing his love of the game.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Despite professing fidelity to free enterprise, conservatives have repeatedly backed government interventions that advantage corporations.
—Allan J. Lichtman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
This is the month to really practice living beyond the binary instead of just professing it.
—Colin Bedell, Them., 17 Sep. 2025
James Dobson, once the most powerful tentpole of the Religious Right and a kingmaker for politicians professing faith, died Thursday, his family announced.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 21 Aug. 2025
In the Netflix dramedy Too Much, a brokenhearted American, Jess, makes the move across the pond, inspired in part by daydreams of stately castles, rolling green hills and dashing gentlemen professing their ardent admiration.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for professing
Verb
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Choose a reason, such as pretending to be someone else.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Oct. 2025
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White, by contrast, is pretending to be one of America’s greatest musical icons, even doing his own singing.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The lawsuit seeks an injunction against the move and a judge's order declaring the president's decision unconstitutional.—
Joey Roulette,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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This shift should assuage Beijing’s concern that the United States seeks to make Taiwan’s self-rule permanent and emboldens Taipei to take every step toward total separation short of declaring independence.—
STEPHEN WERTHEIM,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The video of Beverly insisting on snuggling into Jeremy’s lap melted hearts across Instagram.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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Theatrical worthiness is a recurring theme, with audiences insisting this arc had to be a movie.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the tariffs would cover roughly two-thirds of the primary deficit impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act over five years—or four-fifths over a decade, assuming temporary provisions expire on schedule.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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Since assuming office in late 2023, Milei has wielded a chainsaw approach to government reform in Argentina.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Tehran is likely to continue advancing its nuclear program and asserting regional influence while selectively engaging with allies and rivals.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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Violence is for getting your way; for asserting your existence as an individual or a group; for venting torrential feeling; for sadistic pleasure.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, Madrid’s official complaints to the Spanish government’s Higher Sports Council, alleging that La Liga did not have the competency to organise the Miami game within official regulations, sought to raise the possibility of Tebas being suspended from his position.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Hours before the court filing alleging a possible violation of the judge’s order, Bovino defended federal agents’ conduct in the Chicago area during an interview with CBS News.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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By simulating thousands of powder and nanoparticle mixes, Citrine’s platform homed in on a high-strength alloy called AL 7A77, now used as the first 3D-printable aluminum powder that meets aerospace specs.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Oct. 2025
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One problem that conventional supercomputers face when simulating a molecule is modeling the interactions between every part of a compound, a problem that grows increasingly difficult the larger a molecule gets.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Nevertheless, in the due course of time Truman became as much a fixture to Finney County, Kansas, as are the roadside signs proclaiming its many virtues.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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Trump has been proclaiming for years that his political opponents should be locked up, but there is a gulf between loudly alleging criminal behavior and amassing the evidence necessary to prove the elements of an actual crime.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Professing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/professing. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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