professes

verb

present tense third-person singular of profess
1
as in pretends
to present a false appearance of professed friendship while secretly plotting revenge

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in declares
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 insists
to state as a fact usually forcefully he professed his innocence to anyone who would listen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 professes Harry Styles professes his love for techno music via a hat during a walk in North London on June 25. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 All proudly professes himself as a man of faith. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 2 June 2026 After the massive trauma crisis is resolved, Owen professes his desire to be with Teddy and move to Paris, where Teddy was considering a once-in-a-lifetime research position. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 7 May 2026 Vance professes to be ‘obsessed’ with UFO files Trump appears skeptical about the existence of extraterrestrial life. — Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026 Instead of a mutual parting of ways, Howard professes his love for Nancy and proposes that the two be together. — Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026 Trump often professes his support for farmers. — Anthony Pahnke, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026 The upcoming exhibition's contemporary edge professes the importance of displaying Native American art of the present, to resist the erasure of living, thriving Indigenous American cultures and communities. — Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 26 Feb. 2026 In this context, improving pay and addressing disparities will be a formidable undertaking for a mayoral administration that professes a commitment to economic justice. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for professes
  1. pretends
  2. declares
  3. insists
  4. assumes
  5. asserts
  6. alleges
  7. simulates
  8. proclaims
Verb
  • At one point, though, Jon Hamm does the voice of the mayor but there’s a robot who pretends to be him and is essentially wearing a mayor-skin suit.
    — Marah Eakin, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
  • And Brand New Day pretends to tell that story, for about 20 minutes.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of pretends
Verb
  • Below that line, oil can only be legally released if the President formally declares a severe domestic or international energy supply emergency.
    — Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Counter View On GitHub Before anyone declares a changing of the guard, look at what the adoption data will show over the next two quarters.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of declares
Verb
  • Turkey’s government insists its courts are independent as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shrugs off European rulings, a stance that has already fueled a diplomatic clash with Western ambassadors over Kavala’s detention.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The government insists that prisoners are provided with proper medical care and sent to hospital if required.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of insists
Verb
  • And although Engwe advertises a 55-mile maximum range, that figure assumes ideal conditions.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The committee’s analysis assumes Trump continued to hold the positions disclosed at the end of last year.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of assumes
Verb
  • In addition to hurting consumers, Bird asserts that the uncertainty, along with Paramount’s $7 million ticking fee, will pull down an industry that’s just starting to get back on its feet.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Civilizationism asserts that the United States ought to interfere in Europe’s affairs.
    — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of asserts
Verb
  • Raymond’s complaint alleges Miranda continued taking dogs and collecting fees from shelters while killing some of the animals already in his care and, in some cases, falsely reporting that they had been adopted.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Blackbox Multimedia, which has produced series for 5 including The Ex-Wife and Benidorm is Murder, alleges that the network wrongfully terminated a production deal and it is owed money.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of alleges
Verb
  • The upcoming 2027 model will also be the first to feature E-Shift, an optional system that simulates the gear shifts of a combustion engine.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The offense works on the underneath passing tree while the defense simulates coverage rules and passing off cross-under routes.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of simulates
Verb
  • Standing before her guards, the increasingly dictatorial ruler proclaims herself as the Chosen One to the people of King's Landing.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Across 45 recipes — each its own kind of breadcrumb-naming treatise — the duo proclaims how versatile the kitchen staple both is and can be.
    — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 8 June 2026
Definition of proclaims

Browse Nearby Words

professedly
professes
professing
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Cite this Entry

“Professes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/professes. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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