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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Words like that carry generations of pain, and pretending otherwise only keeps the cycle going.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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People just pretending, and so on.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Members of the caucus emerged from a two-hour meeting on Thursday declaring that the 47-member group is coalescing around a unified strategy rather than splintering into factions, which could mean the government funding fight lasts well beyond the current 37 days.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Bailey's recognition comes as the magazine celebrates 40 years of declaring the honor, which began in 1985 with Oscar winner Mel Gibson.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 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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With Kevin Gausman, José Berríos (assuming elbow health) and Trey Yesavage pencilled into starting spots next year, the Jays have at least two holes to fill.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Without context, you’d be forgiven for assuming that the Elena in question was not another author’s creation, but Messud’s own.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Cheney played a central role in shaping the Bush administration’s case for war in Iraq, repeatedly asserting that Saddam Hussein had ties to al-Qaeda and weapons of mass destruction.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 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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Lincoln Lab teams are currently using that creative power to fill gaps in weather data, spot anomalies in network traffic, and design new materials and medicines by simulating chemical interactions that would historically take months in a physical lab.—
Chelsea Haney
October 30,
New Atlas,
30 Oct. 2025
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China, the most dangerous party, has militarized the strait, launching large military drills simulating blockades of the island and daily incursions across the median line.—
STEPHEN WERTHEIM,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Giannis Antetokounmpo made his statement to the New York Knicks by taking them down and proclaiming Milwaukee is his city amid constant rumors of Giannis to New York.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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Some automakers have made a point of proclaiming their allegiance to CarPlay, knowing that’s what buyers want.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Professing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/professing. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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