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
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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
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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
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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
Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Noun
In 1935, Roosevelt’s Social Security Act changed the covenant between the American people and the state.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenant
Noun
-
The international treaty regulates wildlife trade among the United States and more than 180 other governments to help ensure species are not overexploited through global commerce.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
Some of the information exchanges are occurring through the International Health Regulations, a treaty aimed at protecting the world from disease outbreaks that can cross borders.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Kerr has reached an agreement in principle on a two-year contract to continue coaching the Warriors, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.—
Janie McCauley,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
After coaching this season under an expiring contract, the four-time championship coach has agreed to a new two-year deal, a league source confirmed to the Bay Area News Group on Saturday.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
They’re caught up in this bureaucratic system, this transfer system, these standardization agreements across state lines, so that anybody can move anywhere.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, but the plea agreement says the government will recommend level reductions in the sentencing guidelines.—
Andrew Blankstein,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The nurses have been bargaining with the hospital for more than a year, according to the union, and have faced multiple unfair labor practices against union supporters.—
Anthony Bettin,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
Unions representing eligible employees would first have to bargain with the state to include this program in a contract.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Both events promise unforgettable views of the sun's corona, plunging daytime into an eerie twilight.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 May 2026
-
Their response was not promising.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Under the multi-year pact, Lopez will continue in his role at the helm of the Fire Country spinoff while also developing other projects for the studio.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
-
Then the Motion Picture Academy went and struck a megadeal with YouTube to move the Oscars to the platform in 2029 — in a pact said to be in the nine-figure range.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
There’s no guarantee a baby will book anything, especially as the industry continues to contract.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
14 May 2026
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Iranian officials have also asked for their flag and anthem to be respected, and for security guarantees at airports, hotels and stadiums.—
Khaled Wassef,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
That frustration is exactly why our campaign shocked the political establishment at the Republican convention.—
Anne Brensley,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
-
Langley is not the kind of country singer who bristles at the genre’s conventions.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenant. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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