1
as in treaty
a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples
the two countries signed a peace covenant that, it was hoped, would put an end to decades of bitter conflict
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in contract
a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation
I had to sign a covenant that I would return the rental car on time
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in agreement
an arrangement about action to be taken
the covenant that existed among neighbors in olden times whereby they would quickly respond to the call to help put out one another's house fires
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to bargain
to come to an arrangement as to a course of action
a traditional rule held that a husband could not enter into a covenant with his wife, because that was the equivalent of covenanting with himself
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to promise
to make a solemn declaration of intent
the home buyers had to covenant that they would restore and keep the house for at least 10 years in exchange for a low mortgage rate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of covenant
Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Your neighbor may be violating the covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs).
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Your neighbor may be violating the covenants, conditions and restrictions.
—Jeanne Phillips, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
For decades, discriminatory housing policies — including redlining, racially restrictive covenants and predatory land-sale contracts — systematically extracted the very wealth from Black families that fuels neighborhood investment.
—Tonika Lewis Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Noun
Any pastor or priest, politician or podcaster, who charges that the modern children of Israel are anything other than the direct descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the beneficiaries of God’s unbreakable covenant with Israel, Hagee said, is not preaching the word of God.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Your neighbor may be violating the covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs).
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Your neighbor may be violating the covenants, conditions and restrictions.
—Jeanne Phillips, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
For decades, discriminatory housing policies — including redlining, racially restrictive covenants and predatory land-sale contracts — systematically extracted the very wealth from Black families that fuels neighborhood investment.
—Tonika Lewis Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenant
Noun
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What Villars told me is that the ocean economy is entering a phase of decentralized and cross-sector collaboration, instead of grand inter-governmental treaties.—
Natalie Sum Yue Chung,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
-
In 1997, the Chemical Weapons Convention, a worldwide treaty banning the use of chemical weapons and mandating the destruction of existing chemical weapons, went into effect.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One of the groups that has complained for years about a lack of funding has been the nonprofits that provide services under contracts with the state.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
-
Letang is under contract for two more seasons, while Crosby is eligible for another contract extension this summer.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Leaders across the globe called on Iran Monday evening to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East after the country launched attacks on the United Arab Emirates, putting the ceasefire agreement to its most challenging test yet.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
-
Name what works, define one agreement, and build from something that feels stable and reliable.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
5 May 2026
Verb
-
There is an obligation under labor law to bargain over changes to employment during the term of the agreement.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
-
One way to prevent these kinds of cases is for eligibility rules to be collectively bargained with a college athletes’ union or unions.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The trio has also pored over California’s vintage newspapers, which are newly digitized, to find old mining companies’ reports on promising hot spots.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
An expansive pool deck beckons, and an indoor-outdoor bar space promises endless summer all year long.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 May 2026
Noun
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After all, Skydance Media’s $8 billion merger with Paramount last summer triggered the provision that gives the NFL the wherewithal to opt out of its legacy pact with CBS.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
1 May 2026
-
Pickett and Grier are signed to one-year pacts.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Even if Embiid returns, there’s no guarantee he’ll be equipped to follow around Towns for four quarters.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
From a long-distance relationship to blending a family of eight children, each decision required a level of trust that didn’t always come with guarantees.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The only question is how many of this three challengers will qualify by winning at least 15% of the delegate vote at a nominating convention on May 11.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
But Minogue is catching flack from multiple angles for challenging Healey to debates while snubbing numerous requests from fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve, who made the ballot with just over 15% of the vote at the convention.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenant. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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