1
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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2
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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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
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Recent Examples of professional
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Those who believe they might have been exposed during travel or in some other way — particularly if they're not vaccinated or aren't sure about their vaccination status — should immediately reach out to a healthcare professional or health department, experts say.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Singer-songwriter Warren Zevon and hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa are set to receive the Musical Influence Award for their lasting impact on rock & roll, while producer and music exec Lenny Waronker will take home the Ahmet Ertegun Award for non-performing industry professionals.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for professional
Adjective
This could look like taking on more responsibility, redefining professional boundaries or realizing that success means more than status.
—Noun
Like Beran, Bell was also a successful professional in her 30s when she was diagnosed with colon cancer.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for professional
Adjective
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Paffett-Lugassy shared that approachability matters more than technical novelty.—
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This technical variation results in a fabric with a number of highly desirable characteristics for denim.—
Adjective
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Constitutional law professor David Schultz, who has taught a class on police, criminal and civil procedure, has some answers.—
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But the memory of decades-long civil unrest, largely ended by a peace agreement signed in 2016, is still fresh enough to provide a real-life context for Teddy’s machinations.—
Noun
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The voluntary program allows local districts and private schools to train employees or hire armed specialists to respond to active threats.—
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Meanwhile, print specialist Armand Clark kept an eye on a huge glossy banner for an upcoming event at the Minnesota Children’s Museum that was slowly emerging from a large-format printer.—
Adjective
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Collaborating with industry leaders, academic institutions and others to ensure Iowa develops a skilled workforce for the growing nuclear energy sector.—
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The only problem is that Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger, Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin aren’t skilled at throwing passes or blocking defensive linemen.—
Adjective
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But after a transfer of ownership and a revamp of the voting body, the Golden Globes TV awards have gotten positively respectable.—
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Rookie Andres Borregales made 27 of 32 attempts, a respectable mark.—
Noun
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The fees in question at Monday’s meeting are for a design review application, an environmental consultant, and the city attorney’s work on development agreements, among other things.—
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Dr Emma Craythorne, consultant dermatologist with SkinCeuticals, likes to use the Phyto Corrective Gel straight after treatments in order to cool the skin, and also topical antioxidants such as CE Ferulic or Silymarin CF in combination with LED devices.—
Adjective
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Some of those numbers include hundreds of specialized, flashing, or vibrating alarms for those with disabilities, the deaf, or hard of hearing.—
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The showcase highlighted how humanoid form factors can extend beyond factories into highly specialized medical applications.—
Adjective
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Cignetti’s group has a businesslike demeanor that wasn’t remotely altered by Alabama’s reputation and history.—
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Smart money would tell the Niners to turn in another businesslike performance after the bye, put 10 wins and a playoff berth in the bag and hold on until the playoffs.—
Cite this Entry
“Professional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/professional. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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