confederation

noun

kən-ˌfe-də-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce confederation (audio)
Definition of confederationnext
1
as in confederacy
an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection the smaller nations were forced to form a confederation out of self-defense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in association
the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) the big-budget movie was produced by the studio in confederation with another in order to lower the risk

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 confederation The confederation described both appointments as an unprecedented event for the region. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 Once reports of the proposal to sell off stakes in the World Cup broke last month, three confederations — Asia, Europe, and North America — along with anger from world leaders and dissenting FIFA staff pushed Infantino to back down. — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The executive committee of the smallest and least wealthy confederation, Oceania, will meet next Wednesday to discuss their approach. — Reuters, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026 There are enough votes from those three confederations to bring down Infantino, but there is no guarantee that all members of these associations will vote in the same way. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for confederation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confederation
  1. confederacy
  2. association
  3. federation
  4. partnership
  5. coalition
  6. collaboration
  7. union
  8. relationship
Noun
  • July 4 birthed independence but also a dysfunctional confederacy.
    — Max Taves, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
  • The headstone, a memorial to texans who served the confederacy, was erected in 1964, which is to say the state missed the hundred-year anniversary of the battle itself but did remember to put it up in the year that Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act.
    — Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Definition of confederacy
Noun
  • There was also a strong association with weight before pregnancy.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In 1982, walking through a terminal at Newark International Airport in New Jersey, the Kissingers were accosted by Ellen Kaplan, a follower of Lyndon LaRouche, a cult leader with both Marxist and right-wing associations.
    — Robert D. Mcfadden, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of association
Noun
  • In that role, Hanke developed a framework showing that the federation would generate the greatest wealth for its people over time by pumping as much oil as possible.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • As tennis has grown and the four Grand Slams — and their respective national tennis federations — have grown more powerful with it, that favoritism has evolved into something far less wild and far more predictable.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of federation
Noun
  • Utah officials view the partnership as another part of the state’s broader effort to increase energy production.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Golden Globes, Artemis Rising Foundation and Think-Film Impact Production first partnered to launch a documentary prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and then expanded the partnership to Venice last year.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of partnership
Noun
  • The organization has formed a coalition with 70 other groups, including faith leaders, business executives, unions and other voting rights advocates.
    — Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Missouri Workers Power, a coalition of progressive advocacy groups that oppose the city helping fund the project, is still seeking to force a public vote.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of coalition
Noun
  • Clear communication keeps collaboration useful without draining the spark.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • For Lush’s head of concepts and collaborations Kalem Brinkworth, the intensity of the group’s fandom was a surprise.
    — Kati Chitrakorn, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of collaboration
Noun
  • In 1998, Fabares was supportive of early efforts to combine the Screen Actors Guild with the industry’s other major performers union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The same union publicly called on the state’s 200 billionaires to also work together to find a solution to the Medicaid hole.
    — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of union
Noun
  • Al Solove, chair of Indivisible ATL and a member of the DeFrost Home Depot leadership team, said the coalition is specifically pressing Home Depot to end its relationship with Flock Safety.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Her motive wasn’t a major part of the trial, but evidence presented by the prosecution suggested her relationship with her in-laws had deteriorated.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of relationship

Browse Nearby Words

confederating
confederation
confederations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Confederation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confederation. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on confederation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about confederation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tilde

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All