PROFILE Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'profile' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of profile are contour , outline , and silhouette . While all these words mean "the line that bounds and gives form to something," profile suggests a varied and sharply defined outline against a lighter background. // a portrait of her face in profile

Q: Where would 'contour' be a reasonable alternative to 'profile'?

The synonyms contour and profile are sometimes interchangeable, but contour stresses the quality of an outline or a bounding surface as being smooth, jagged, curving, or sharply angled. // a car with flowing contours

Q: When might 'outline' be a better fit than 'profile'?

While the synonyms outline and profile are close in meaning, outline applies to a line marking the outer limits or edges of a body or mass. // traced the outline of his hand

Q: When could 'silhouette' be used to replace 'profile'?

In some situations, the words silhouette and profile are roughly equivalent. However, silhouette suggests a shape especially of a head or figure with all detail blacked out in shadow leaving only the outline clearly defined. // photograph in silhouette against a bright sky

profile 1 of 2

noun

Definition of profile

as in contour

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Dissimilar Words

as in character sketch

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profile

2 of 2

verb

as in to outline

to produce a representation of the shape of the head as seen from the side his likeness was profiled against a background of vegetation

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun profile differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of profile are contour, outline, and silhouette. While all these words mean "the line that bounds and gives form to something," profile suggests a varied and sharply defined outline against a lighter background.

a portrait of her face in profile

Where would contour be a reasonable alternative to profile?

The synonyms contour and profile are sometimes interchangeable, but contour stresses the quality of an outline or a bounding surface as being smooth, jagged, curving, or sharply angled.

a car with flowing contours

When might outline be a better fit than profile?

While the synonyms outline and profile are close in meaning, outline applies to a line marking the outer limits or edges of a body or mass.

traced the outline of his hand

When could silhouette be used to replace profile?

In some situations, the words silhouette and profile are roughly equivalent. However, silhouette suggests a shape especially of a head or figure with all detail blacked out in shadow leaving only the outline clearly defined.

photograph in silhouette against a bright sky

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of profile

Noun

Bonanno, one of its original members, is said to have eschewed the pomp and public appearances of his contemporaries and remained a low-profile figure into the 1950s. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026 The Instagram profile also has links to social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, where the message from Zak, Zelda, and Cody was also shared. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026

Verb

The physicians profiled in the doc risked their lives to perform emergency surgeries on children who had been gravely injured in shelling, bombing, and other attacks by the Israel Defense Forces. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026 The first time Jacobs was profiled in Vanity Fair was 1989, in the run-up to his first show for Perry Ellis. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for profile

Recent Examples of Synonyms for profile

Noun

Despite this, black jackets and hair in the party scenes look properly dark while still showing their cuts and contours, and white shirts, lights, and balloons in the same shots all look bright while similarly preserving details.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026
When planning paths and features, follow the contour of the slope rather than going straight up and down to slow water and create less treacherous access.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of contour

Verb

In another video, a vendor who sells power and construction tools outlines the near-impossible nature of trying to import cargo into Iran, detailing a complicated supply chain that passes through several countries.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Gilbert also outlined proposals aimed at expanding access to healthcare.

— Sergio Candido, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of outline

Noun

Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 A little quiet can help your next big idea find its shape.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2026
Super Zoom is better at capturing predictable items, such as objects and animals with consistent shapes and details that AI can more easily interpret.

— Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of shape

Noun

His obituary described him as an avid golfer, fisherman and gardener who is survived by two sons, his mother, two brothers and his dog, Merle.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
According to an obituary, Santana was a 2018 graduate of Eli Whitney Technical High School who loved race cars and car racing.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of obituary

Verb

The latter includes the new Ethereal Blue, plus the striking option of a graduated finish that shifts from black at the rear to one of three colors – blue, violet and gunmetal – at the front, as pictured above.

— Alistair Charlton, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
California Cruise could also be just a simple sleeper van with a regular folding bed and the table and chair set pictured, no kitchen equipment, fancy inflatables or pop-up roof.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of picture

Noun

The process can produce lightweight parts with complex geometries that conventional manufacturing methods may struggle to achieve.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
Taken together, these inputs—real geometry, real traffic, and each vehicle’s live GPS position—constitute what network researchers call a digital twin of the urban environment.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of geometry

Noun

Supporters of Beaver’s Mini Mart have attacked Buc-ee’s online and boycotted the stores, and the mini mart's home city passed a resolution making the beaver an official part of its history.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
To stay here is to sleep among centuries of history—something the property is eager to remind you of at every turn.

— Katie Silcox, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of history

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“Profile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profile. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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