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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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

Together, the panelists bring decades of experience advising on high-profile transactions, navigating complex ownership structures and helping shape the financial landscape of professional sports. — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026 Investigators eventually developed a DNA profile from evidence in Aime's case that was linked to Bundy. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Verb

Ej Dickson investigated the burnerverse for Wired, profiling one of these women who were doxxed – and found links between these burner accounts and college fraternities. — Brittany Luse, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026 In 2015, The Washington Post profiled teaching associates at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia, including a theater actor who helped medical students learn pelvic examinations. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for profile

Recent Examples of Synonyms for profile

Noun

The result is a wash of color that can act as a subtle lip contour on its own or as a base underneath lipstick or gloss.

— Sheryl George, Allure, 20 Oct. 2026
The precise contour creates a modern, striking look and gives the hair structure and character.

— Lena Raab, Glamour, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of contour

Verb

As outlined in the European Council Conclusions of December 2019 and reiterated in June 2025, the Türkiye-Libya Memorandum of Understanding infringes upon the sovereign rights of third States and does not comply with the Law of the Sea.

— Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
The subpoenas request any documents and communications related to letters sent in July and October by federal officials to state election officials outlining the allegations about noncitizen voters.

— Safiyah Riddle, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of outline

Noun

Furthermore, custom rigid shapes for every new material are expensive, fragile, and difficult to scale.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
Many were marginal structures, long abandoned and often in questionable shape, whose conventional market value was close to nothing.

— Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of shape

Verb

Pawlikowski is also the director of the 2013 Ida, as well 2018’s Cold War, pictures that, like this one, deftly balance postwar Eastern Bloc realities with the truth that all humans strive for connection and belonging.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
This was certainly not how Elise, a sophomore at Battle Ground High, pictured her season ending when the school year began.

— Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of picture

Noun

Rechtin knew this, and his design included clever geometry to at least improve its chances of surviving experiments.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026
The music as a whole seems to reflect all of this moment-to-moment action at a larger structural level, shifting from one overlapping movement to the next according to the same fractal geometry that governs the beat.

— Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of geometry

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proficients

profile

profiled

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“Profile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profile. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of profile

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