PROFESSIONAL Synonyms: 208 Similar and Opposite Words

professional 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of professional

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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Dissimilar Words

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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Dissimilar Words

professional

2 of 2

noun

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

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 professional

Adjective

Ranging in age from 24 to 49, the 21-player group includes a professional wrestler, voice actress, federal prosecutor, baseball executive and sociology professor, among many other professions. — Terry Terrones, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026 Unrivaled, the 3×3 women’s professional basketball league, has completed an oversubscribed Series C fundraise at a value of $650 million, as the nearly three-year-old organization contemplates further geographic expansion. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Noun

The attorney seeks to call on family members and mental health professionals to talk about Salazar’s history of mental illness. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Smetters suggests the government would ultimately spend more to retain healthcare professionals in roles that benefit public services. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for professional

Recent Examples of Synonyms for professional

Adjective

Venezuela's industry has suffered from decades of underinvestment, deteriorating infrastructure and the loss of technical expertise.

— Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
However, the project remains at the study stage, and its technical feasibility, regulatory requirements and commercial prospects still need to be evaluated.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of technical

Adjective

According to a civil wrongful death lawsuit filed by Lindsay's ex-husband Patrick Clancy, the 36-year-old is paralyzed below the sternum.

— Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
According to court records, a mortgage company filed a civil complaint against Paul and Sally Anne Cash in August 2025 to foreclose on the home, court records show.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of civil

Noun

Look for Dinkins, a blocking specialist the team is excited about, to return to the practice squad if he’s not snapped up on waivers.

— Matt Barrows, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
The Mamdani administration has taken encouraging steps, including offering free naloxone by mail through its Just in Case campaign and investing $12 million to train and employ 500 additional peer specialists.

— Joel Teron, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of specialist

Adjective

There are economic repercussions; sure, robots could build houses, but what happens to all the skilled carpenters?

— Jeff Haden, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Heather McKenzie, who works in labor relations in Lincoln, said putting more data centers in Nebraska can slow an exodus of skilled young people leaving the state.

— Will Weissert, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of skilled

Noun

Paul Rees, a driving consultant who was involved in the Top Gear crash, is also suing BBC Studios for £150,000 ($200,000) over the accident.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Our key cultural consultant and consulting producer, Liliana Bolaños, was tasked with finding partners and venues, enough to do a 20-city tour across major cities in the US.

— Daren Smith, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of consultant

Adjective

Players are having fun, and practice is more businesslike than previous years.

— Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
That moment sums up the nondescript way the Cubs assembled their bullpen, and the businesslike manner in which the club executes its game plans.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Definition of businesslike

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Style

“Professional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/professional. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of professional

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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