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profile

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verb

as in to outline
to produce a representation of the shape of the head as seen from the side his likeness was profiled against a background of vegetation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun profile differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of profile are contour, outline, and silhouette. While all these words mean "the line that bounds and gives form to something," profile suggests a varied and sharply defined outline against a lighter background.

a portrait of her face in profile

Where would contour be a reasonable alternative to profile?

The synonyms contour and profile are sometimes interchangeable, but contour stresses the quality of an outline or a bounding surface as being smooth, jagged, curving, or sharply angled.

a car with flowing contours

When might outline be a better fit than profile?

While the synonyms outline and profile are close in meaning, outline applies to a line marking the outer limits or edges of a body or mass.

traced the outline of his hand

When could silhouette be used to replace profile?

In some situations, the words silhouette and profile are roughly equivalent. However, silhouette suggests a shape especially of a head or figure with all detail blacked out in shadow leaving only the outline clearly defined.

photograph in silhouette against a bright sky

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 profile
Noun
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Ca Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2025 There’s no need to move on from an album that’s clearly resonating with pop fans, so McRae should present that album to a global audience and raise her profile even more. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
She was even profiled by Sports Illustrated in 1959 when her famous horse, Belinda — purchased by her father — retired. Sean Neumann, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025 Last month, my colleague Mike Winters profiled a couple who successfully manage 15 credit cards in order to maximize their perks. Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for profile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profile
Noun
  • But the latest launches prove the rules are meant to be broken, with new options for shimmery highlighters for ice queens, soft blushes in a range of textures and contours to sculpt your features.
    Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
  • The aforementioned suits also look properly dark while their cuts, contours, and textures are still visible.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • At a meeting held at Southwest High School on Sept. 18, 1961, Missouri highway engineers outlined the plan — a six-lane, high-speed, limited-access highway, much of it depressed 20 feet or more below the surface.
    Michael Wells, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Collective bargaining agreements between an employer and a union representing workers outlines the rights and benefits of employees such as their pay schedule and their ability to challenge demotions or terminations.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 8 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Step 5: Let the mattress take its shape The flat, sometimes crinkly foam will inflate and take shape.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Similarly, knowing a protein’s shape helps scientists design molecules that fit perfectly into it, making drugs more effective.
    Priyanka Naik, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Remembering the 100,000 Lives Lost to Coronavirus in America As the U.S. reached a grim milestone in the outbreak, The New York Times gathered names of the dead and memories of their lives from obituaries across the country.
    Aatish Bhatia, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2025
  • According to their obituaries, McGeeney, Johnson and Harrington graduated from Park Hill High School and, according to Picerno, had been friends since a young age.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Vivienne appeared to be having fun with her friend, as she was pictured laughing and sticking her tongue out.
    Effie Orfanides, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Hackman was pictured holding onto Arakawa's arm as the pair grabbed lunch together at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe.
    Sharareh Drury, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • This can include facial recognition, iris scanning, voice recognition, fingerprints, hand geometry and more.
    Skip Sanzeri, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Steel Nomad's regular (4K) and Light (1440p) subtests focus on APIs more commonly used for game development, like Metal and DirectX 12, in addition to Vulkan to assess gaming geometry and particle effects.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The partnership started in 2024, focusing on creating exclusive trading cards and memorabilia that highlight the team's successful history in the sport.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
  • In his lecture at the Traditions festival, Dugin moved from peasants to a survey of modern Russian intellectual history.
    James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Mercedes stated that the 12-module battery housing of the EQS was versatile enough for various configurations, even though its full specifications are still pending confirmation.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Mar. 2025
  • There are various lodging options, from houses to cozy cabins, generous suites, and hotel-style rooms to accommodate groups of any size, budget, and configuration.
    Red Fabbri, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Profile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profile. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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