PROFESS

v. 1 assert, claim, aver, asseverate, state, affirm, confirm, confess, declare, say, hold, maintain, present, offer, proffer, tender, set forth, put forward, pronounce, enounce, enunciate, announce, utter, vow, avow He professed himself satisfied with the judge's decision 2 pretend, lay claim, make a pretence, purport, act as if, simulate They professed to be legitimate businessmen, but I was always suspicious