alliance

noun

ə-ˈlī-ən(t)s How to pronounce alliance (audio)
Definition of alliancenext
1
as in treaty
a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples the smaller countries signed an alliance pledging to protect one another against the belligerent behemoth in their midst

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2
as in coalition
an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection an alliance between the French and the Algonquians to check Iroquois advances into their territory

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3
as in partnership
the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) in alliance with booksellers, the nation's schools are promoting National Reading Month

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 alliance The outcome sets up weeks of coalition bargaining and political uncertainty, with the opposition alliance facing an uphill battle to assemble a majority government in the 120-seat Knesset. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026 Regionalization remains a taboo subject among most of the alliance’s political leadership; NATO is, after all, a collective defense alliance founded on indivisible security. — Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026 Von der Leyen said the alliance would help Canada and Europe respond together to a world of growing rivalries. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 Zoe Heller, the director of CalRecycle, said in a statement that new numbers have been submitted by the alliance, and CalRecycle is reviewing them. — Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alliance
  1. treaty
  2. coalition
  3. partnership
  4. pact
  5. confederacy
  6. association
  7. union
  8. collaboration
Noun
  • Without a treaty change or a Pentagon-wide policy, commands and contractors retain broad discretion over whether a family can return home to pursue divorce and custody in an American court.
    — Brianna Keilar, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Federal agents negotiated treaties in the 1850s with more than 130 Indigenous communities in the new state of California, setting aside roughly 7% of the state for reservations.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of treaty
Noun
  • The mandate goes to the lawmaker most likely to assemble a coalition.
    — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Young protestors answered with an insurrectionary energy in the summer and soon found support from a broader coalition comprised of opposition parties, social movements and other pillars of Indian civil society.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of coalition
Noun
  • This month, it was reported that KFC ended its roughly four-decade-long partnership with Pepsi in favor of rival Coca-Cola.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But Finch then offered some perspective on the process that Adebayo and Antetokounmpo are currently going through early in their on-court partnership.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of partnership
Noun
  • The pact has since been renewed as first-look, allowing Glover to work with other studios.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Its trade pact with Canada, signed Tuesday, is expected to boost exports to the emirates in aerospace, cereals, machinery, and vehicles.
    — Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of pact
Noun
  • Seneca said the renaming violated the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua, which was signed by President George Washington and the Haudenosaunee confederacy promising perpetual peace and friendship.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • July 4 birthed independence but also a dysfunctional confederacy.
    — Max Taves, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
Definition of confederacy
Noun
  • Much of that money has been used for TV advertisements and mailers portraying Vang as an extremist, highlighting her association with Piker and her refusal to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The company went public in 2019 during the special-purpose acquisition company boom, boosted by its association with the charismatic Branson, who rang the New York Stock Exchange’s opening bell on the company’s trading debut.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of association
Noun
  • On Thursday, the Louvre in Paris signed an agreement with unions who had threatened to strike for months, reports Le Figaro and AFP.
    — Devorah Lauter for ARTNews, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Impact The initial phase of contract talks still would have union and county representatives seeking to hammer out a mutually beneficial deal, with a presumption that both sides would negotiate in good faith.
    — Times staff, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of union
Noun
  • Instead, Washington will need to strike a better balance between mitigating the security risks of Chinese investment and collaboration and securing commercial benefits from Chinese knowledge and industry.
    — Ali Wyne, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Every collaboration, either within a coalition or from the outside, has its political price.
    — Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of collaboration

Browse Nearby Words

alleyways
alliance
alliances
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Cite this Entry

“Alliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alliance. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on alliance

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alliance

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