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
Louis Menand, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
Palomar’s bond covenants require it to keep a reserve large enough to cover 65 days of its operation, but the financial report states that just 15.4 days were available as of the end of February, 5.2 fewer than in January.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
Are there restrictions placed by a credit agreement or by debt covenants that need to be considered to determine the purpose and scope of the policy?
—Sunayana Gutta, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Once leverage covenants allow, the company intends to implement a share buyback program.
—Gurufocus, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Noun
By mid-century, more than eighty per cent of the properties outside central Detroit had racial covenants—which were generally clauses in deeds signed by white homeowners pledging not to sell or rent to Black people.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
Palomar’s bond covenants require it to keep a reserve large enough to cover 65 days of its operation, but the financial report states that just 15.4 days were available as of the end of February, 5.2 fewer than in January.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
Are there restrictions placed by a credit agreement or by debt covenants that need to be considered to determine the purpose and scope of the policy?
—Sunayana Gutta, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Once leverage covenants allow, the company intends to implement a share buyback program.
—Gurufocus, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenant
Noun
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Trump threatened earlier this year to levy additional tariffs against Mexico after the country missed the deadline to send over water to the U.S. from the Rio Grande River, stipulated by a 1944 treaty.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
15 Apr. 2025
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Over this period, Washington and Moscow have been engaging in serious efforts to limit and reduce their arsenals of nuclear weapons, sometimes through treaties and sometimes through unilateral initiatives conducted in parallel.—
Rose Gottemoeller,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This is rare in an industry where many companies rely on contract manufacturers and private-label products.—
Xandra Harbet,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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Signed to a one-year, $12.5 million contract, Goldschmidt has driven in runs, and has gotten some big base hits.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The agreement also has a joint research component where both companies will study and assess the actual effects of AI on professional tax preparation, with the goal of creating scalable solutions for future AI apps and solutions.—
Tor Constantino, MBA,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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In February, Vice Studios cut a distribution agreement with ITV Studios.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The association contends these actions violate state rules requiring public employers to bargain over such matters, infringing on deputies’ rights and the union’s ability to represent them.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
18 Apr. 2025
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The proposals were aimed at protecting government employees’ ability to collectively bargain amid attacks by the Trump administration, preventing cuts to food stamps and to show support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Ukraine, respectively.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Two key areas where quantum technologies promise significant breakthroughs are portfolio optimization and market sentiment analysis.—
Lester Pereira,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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The job promises to be highly sought after as Trump officials plan to pour billions of dollars into building detention facilities as part of the president’s push to deport more immigrants.—
Jeff Ernsthausen,
ProPublica,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The company also struck a new distribution pact with DirecTV and expanded its portfolio of sports rights, securing the rights to broadcast the Olympics in Mexico through 2032.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2025
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The leaders signed new pacts covering railways, trade, security, and technology, including plans for a Kenyan consulate in Guangzhou.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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There is no magic formula for how to get this right, and there is no guarantee that Trump’s approach will succeed.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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As for who might succeed Francis, experts say that since the late pope appointed many cardinals, his successor could be someone who shares his ideas and vision for the church, but there's no guarantee.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Leake, a fixture in local politics for decades, announced her own candidacy at Saturday’s convention.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Apr. 2025
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On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan had just finished speaking at a union convention and was emerging from the hotel when he was struck by a bullet from would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr. .—
Major Garrett,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenant. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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