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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However, Cena outsmarted him by grabbing the chair, throwing it next to Dom, and pretending to be down on the mat.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
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In the 43-part series, Monroe calls several churches and other places of worship pretending to be a mother in need of formula for her baby.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 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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There’s nothing anti-tech about insisting that invention and fairness coexist.—
Gerard Scimeca,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
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Several tech players are already constructing private energy plants for their own use as part of their data center buildouts, so there is nothing radical about Democrats insisting on tying approvals for data centers to bearing the cost of enhancing the public grid.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As a result, Kansas City will rely on Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt to continue sharing the load in the offensive backfield down the stretch of the season and into the playoffs -- assuming the Chiefs earn a place there come January.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
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And that’s assuming that China, already Saudi’s biggest trade partner, doesn’t also look to partner with the kingdom on its metals ambitions and play spoiler to the West’s goal of creating an alternative.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Clark’s delivery was confident, polished and emotionally resonant — drawing clear comparisons to early-2000s country stars while asserting her place as a rising voice in the genre.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
11 Nov. 2025
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The demonstrators, some wielding bats, appeared to be asserting the jurisdiction of the Edo people’s ceremonial king, Oba Ewuare II, over the region’s cultural patrimony.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The lawsuit also accuses the MD-11 model and its CF-6 engines of having a troubling safety history, alleging that the aircraft has been linked to multiple catastrophic failures and ranks among the least reliable commercial planes still in service.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
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Last month, Berry’s family filed a lawsuit against the city of Sacramento and RT alleging wrongful death alleging the agency neglected to ensure the safety of their passengers.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In recent years, Beijing has increased pressure on the island's leadership, including by staging large-scale exercises simulating a blockade.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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This specific model flipped riders on their stomachs at great heights and through several inversions, with the experience simulating flight.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Álvarez, who owned a modest condo in Tampa and incorporated a company there in April 2017, gave an exclusive telephone interview from her jail in Colombia, proclaiming her innocence.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Professing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/professing. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.
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