profile 1 of 2

verb

Definition of profilenext
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

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profile

2 of 2

noun

1
as in contour

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in character sketch

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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
Verb
To keep a low profile, her face was concealed underneath a baseball cap and sunglasses. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 1 July 2025 Once verified, users get a blue checkmark on their profile. —Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 30 June 2025
Noun
Editor’s note: This story is one of 11 Middle Tennessee cold cases profiled by The Tennessean. —Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 Tackling transportation challenges Like most states, the 10 profiled in this report include urban, suburban, and rural areas. —Jean Eddy, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for profile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profile
  1. outline
  2. contour
  3. picture
  4. shape
  5. obituary
  6. geometry
  7. history
  8. configuration
Verb
  • On her Instagram post for her second week of the challenge, Miller outlined her expenses: Regular bills: $291.88 (That also included $21.65 for subscriptions like streaming services, which Miller said doesn't make sense to cancel for a month and restart).
    — Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 19 July 2025
  • Odds For Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier There are plenty of fight options for UFC 318, but as outlined above, the Holloway-Poirier fight will headline Saturday night.
    — Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
Definition of outline
Noun
  • Electric razors mapping facial contours for better shaves.
    — David Moin, Footwear News, 23 July 2025
  • The head and foot of the topper are made with softer materials that better contour to your shoulders and knees.
    — Sara Coughlin, SELF, 22 July 2025
Definition of contour
Verb
  • The next clip pictured Stickler on top of the mystery man, whose back was to the camera.
    — Skyler Caruso, People.com, 23 July 2025
  • While our children often experience summer with wide-eyed excitement - picturing endless playdates, pool days, and screen time - parents often brace themselves for the real summer marathon.
    — Bevone Ritchie, Miami Herald, 22 July 2025
Definition of picture
Noun
  • Anderson, specifically, took the bob one step further, adding micro bangs to round out the shape.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 15 July 2025
  • In addition to the new sound, the shape of the 6 N is obviously quite a bit different than that of the SUV-silhouette of the Ioniq 5.
    — Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2025
Definition of shape
Noun
  • The death of Simon Mariani, of Franklin Lakes, N.J., on Monday, June 14, was announced in a published obituary.
    — David Chiu, People.com, 17 July 2025
  • Dana Ross worked as a human resources coordinator at Conestoga Energy in Southlake, according to her LinkedIn profile and online obituary.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2025
Definition of obituary
Noun
  • Math performance can be tricky for high schools to ace since it’s based on how well students perform on end-of-course exams in algebra and geometry.
    — Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2025
  • Rooted in light and geometry, these are jewels which feel empowering in their precision and protective on the body.
    — Kate Matthams, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Definition of geometry
Noun
  • Antonia Drew Norton, founder and executive director of Asha Family Services, said the child's homicide was directly tied to the family's history of domestic violence and abuse, as documented in public records.
    — Ashley Luthern, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
  • Even Game of Thrones, arguably the most successful fantasy/genre series in Emmys history, can only credit 32 of its 164 Emmy nominations across eight seasons to acting categories (and eight of them were for Peter Dinklage).
    — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 23 July 2025
Definition of history
Noun
  • The mystery dial configuration consists of no fewer than eight complications and mechanical components that appear to float independently on the Maillechort dial.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • Against Rostock, Villa deployed wing-backs, yet the overall configuration appeared nearly identical.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 23 July 2025
Definition of configuration

Browse Nearby Words

proficients
profile
profiled
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Cite this Entry

“Profile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profile. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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