profess

Verb

• state insincerely
  • He professed innocence but later admitted his guilt
    
  • She pretended not to have known the suicide bomber
    
  • She pretends to be an expert on wine
    

• take vows, as in religious order
  • she professed herself as a nun
    

• receive into a religious order or congregation

• state freely
  • The teacher professed that he was not generous when it came to giving good grades
    

• admit (to a wrongdoing)
  • She confessed that she had taken the money
    

• confess one's faith in, or allegiance to
  • The terrorists professed allegiance to their country
    
  • he professes to be a Communist
    

• practice as a profession, teach, or claim to be knowledgeable about
  • She professes organic chemistry
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  pretend , concede , confess