professional

adjective /prəˈfɛʃənl/

Relating to or characteristic of a profession; competent and skilled.

Quick answer

Common synonyms for "professional" include polished, competent, skilled, expert, proficient, qualified. Choose by context — see groups below.

Synonyms for "professional"

professional —

polishedcompetentskilledexpertproficientqualifiedexperienced

Antonyms for "professional"

amateurunprofessional

Examples in context

  • Her writing has a professional tone — clear, calm, confident.
  • He acted with quiet professionalism through the reorganization.
  • The release was a professional piece of work.
Usage note

“Professional” suggests trained restraint. Match it with substance (specific results) to keep it from sounding hollow.