1
as in technical
having or showing trained ability in a particular field of knowledge
Many of the applicants lacked the professional experience the job required. She had always dreamed of becoming a professional boxer.
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2
as in civil
in a serious and polite manner
She found his presentation informative and his delivery quite professional. Employees were expected to act in a professional manner when dealing with potential customers.
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as in specialist
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
If you want the job done right, you really should hire a professional.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of professional
Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Also, consider reaching out to a professional senior downsizer or someone accredited by the American Society of Appraisers.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Early on in his recovery, Jesus spoke with a mental-health professional in Brazil.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for professional
Adjective
Neither the pair nor their plane have been found, leaving nearly a century of professional and amateur investigators attempting to figure out what happened to them.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Also, consider reaching out to a professional senior downsizer or someone accredited by the American Society of Appraisers.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
During the four-and-a-half-month program, filmmakers develop their scrips and network with industry professionals.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Early on in his recovery, Jesus spoke with a mental-health professional in Brazil.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for professional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for professional
Adjective
-
Originally presented as a technical overhaul of the justice system, the reform has sharpened political divisions and unified the center‑left opposition, turning the referendum into a symbolic showdown on Meloni's strength one year ahead of national elections.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
-
In technical terms, the law also states that forces always occur in pairs.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The original sculpture of Columbus was dumped into the harbor in 2020 amid civil unrest after the deaths of George Floyd and other Black people by police violence that year.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the distributor and its finance company are still trying to resolve their finances through a civil lawsuit filed the year the deal went south.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Crisis negotiators and other specialists also responded and were developing a plan for a peaceful resolution to the standoff, police said.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Three other specialists provide treatments at the spa.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Smith, physical and skilled in pass coverage, is very much valued inside the program.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Nowhere is that clearer than in parts of the economy tied to the AI boom, where skilled labor is commanding salaries that rival—or exceed—traditional white-collar roles.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Washington recorded a respectable 20 reps on the bench press and also looked extremely quick during the 40-yard dash.—
Darin Oswald,
Idaho Statesman,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Voters do occasionally notice who's actually on the ballot, and Democrats are serving up a semi-respectable offering.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
By 1968, there were some three thousand Mary Kay consultants; over the following decades, the number grew to hundreds of thousands as the company expanded worldwide, infiltrating even Russia and China.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Oliver Goldstick, who was previously an executive producer and co-showrunner on the show, will return as a consultant on Season 4.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Shadow of the Titan China’s new submersible enters a specialized market currently led by Western brands like Triton and U-Boat Worx, which have operated at these depths for years.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
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All of the specialized schools in their home state of Virginia had deemed their son Ethan’s needs too severe to manage.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The relative wrote back and, in an almost businesslike tone, informed her that there was no space left at the Maine cemetery.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Eva is a complex character, flinty and businesslike, deadly serious about her mission and willing to make ethical compromises to move it forward.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Professional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/professional. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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