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
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
Murph the Surf and two of his boys were collared two days later, professing that the goods were gone.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Texas pulled off an upset against in-state rival Texas A&M on Friday night in a thrilling 27-17 victory that had head coach Steve Sarkisian professing his 9-3 Longhorns should make the College Football Playoff.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Meghan Markle is professing her love for Prince Harry five years after the couple’s royal exit.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Brady concluded his own explanation by professing his love of the game.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
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
Murph the Surf and two of his boys were collared two days later, professing that the goods were gone.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Texas pulled off an upset against in-state rival Texas A&M on Friday night in a thrilling 27-17 victory that had head coach Steve Sarkisian professing his 9-3 Longhorns should make the College Football Playoff.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Meghan Markle is professing her love for Prince Harry five years after the couple’s royal exit.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Brady concluded his own explanation by professing his love of the game.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for professing
Verb
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The two initially make a deal where Hannah exchanges free tutoring lessons for Garrett pretending to be her boyfriend, making her crush jealous.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
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With the war’s turbulence on the economy more prevalent and the internet now throttled, Russians no longer have the luxury of pretending the war in Ukraine isn’t happening.—
Daniel DePetris,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Wright has been a champion of LeBron's accomplishments for quite some time, declaring James the GOAT over Michael Jordan nearly a decade earlier, after the former's improbable Finals win over the Golden State Warriors.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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The network noted that The View had obtained a ruling from the FCC in 2002, declaring that the show was exempt from the equal time rule.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated Wednesday that Moscow’s fundamental terms are unchanged, with Putin insisting that Ukraine pull its troops from the four regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but hasn’t fully captured.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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Then there are those who, as a rule, never touch the glands, insisting that the risks outweigh the benefits.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Put simply, Wembanyama is built for the SportsCenter Top 10, assuming that still exists.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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But gone are the days of assuming good actors rule the roost when bad action can be quicker, easier, and more lucrative.—
Will Johnson,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The law allows a President to exclude personal records, sets out timetables for releasing documents once the President has left office, and provides a mechanism for asserting executive privilege to keep certain material secret.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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Jokic stuck up for Adelman after the season-ending loss, asserting that the outcome wasn’t his fault.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Musk filed suit in 2024, alleging breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
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The flurry of headlines about what was left out of the film—most obviously, the 1993 lawsuit that accused Jackson of molesting a 13-year-old, and subsequent lawsuits alleging similar abuse—also haven’t mattered.—
Jemele Hill,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
Verb
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That point was acknowledged immediately with the title track – not played since 2009 – opening the show as motion-simulating video tilted and zipped through a vibrant carnival.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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Separate tests examined how the thermal protection system performs when its surface is damaged, simulating impacts from debris or micrometeoroids.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Again, the show is insistent on proclaiming Val’s greatness without putting in the work.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
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Which is to say that its power as a mode of redress in the first sense—as agent for proclaiming and correcting injustices—is being appealed to constantly.—
Nick Laird,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Professing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/professing. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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