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
-
Because good ex-etiquette isn’t about pretending the past didn’t happen.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
-
At this point, the NFL is not even pretending the draft is about the handful of prospects sitting in the green room.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Other states have to confront the unprecedented possibility of revising maps even as voters are casting ballots or the legal process of declaring intent to run for office has concluded.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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By declaring victory over his archnemesis, Musk could aggregate even more influence over the industry.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The president rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for easing restrictions, insisting that larger concerns must be addressed first.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
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Hegseth largely declined to provide specifics, instead denouncing critics as defeatists, questioning their patriotism and insisting the mission had broad public support.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With a razor-thin majority, the Speaker can afford to lose only two GOP votes on any party-line bill, assuming that all members are present and Democrats are united in opposition.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
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Providers also can fall victim to inadvertent bias, assuming a young, otherwise healthy patient must be dealing with something other than shingles.—
Alyssa Sparacino,
Glamour,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In December 2023, Maduro held a controversial referendum that claimed 98 percent public support for asserting sovereignty over the region — a vote widely criticized for alleged fraud and lack of transparency.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
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The Lees’ acquisitions mark an impressive feat, both in terms of reclaiming national heritage and asserting personal piety.—
Lori Waxman,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the letter, Carvajal says as much, alleging that Maduro had aimed to use drugs as a weapon against the United States.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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Moscow denied targeting the plant, alleging Kyiv staged the attack.—
Samya Kullab,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That means trains are now operating on a full schedule, simulating real service, to prove the system is ready for the public.—
Amanda Starrantino,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Games like Space Engineers and Surviving Mars also do a great job of simulating energy bottlenecks; one of the major challenges of powering a real moon base isn't so much generating enough power as delivering it efficiently and reliably.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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Today, there's writing on the wall outside, proclaiming the miracle of Ho Khanh.—
Nicole Young,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Professing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/professing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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