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
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
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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of covenant
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
For some readers, although Isaac is the second patriarch and Abraham’s aborted attempt to sacrifice him is central to the biblical tradition, Rebekah is more instrumental for the continuity of the lineage and divine covenant through her support of her beloved son, Jacob.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Noun
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
For some readers, although Isaac is the second patriarch and Abraham’s aborted attempt to sacrifice him is central to the biblical tradition, Rebekah is more instrumental for the continuity of the lineage and divine covenant through her support of her beloved son, Jacob.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenant
Noun
-
This provision of the treaty had its detractors among Americans, though—specifically, those who were unhappy with the United States absorbing a considerable number of Roman Catholics, many of whom were not of exclusively European descent.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The 1975 Biological Weapons Convention, an international treaty prohibiting the production and use of bioweapons, contains no provisions for AI.—
Stephen D. Turner,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Williams is returning to the Sky on a two-year contract, sources confirmed to the Tribune.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Cloud entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent while Laney-Hamilton is essentially a reserve player in 2026 after having her contract suspended last year.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His starting point was not optimism about the likelihood of human agreement but a sober recognition of its unlikelihood.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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While classes will remain in session, CPS reached an agreement last week to provide transportation to students who chose to participate in an afternoon rally, and to allow teachers to implement a curriculum on civic engagement.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 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
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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
-
Sunday marked only the first chapter, and an early test for a young, promising head coach.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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The 18 million acre-feet was likely an overestimation of how much water there was even a century ago, but today’s river provides even less than the total amounts promised to states in 1922.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
According to Associated Administrators of Los Angeles/Teamsters Local 2010, which represents about 3,000 LAUSD administrators, roughly 96% of its members voted in favor of the labor pact.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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The pact also calls for strengthening operational capacities of the Haiti National Police and Armed Forces of Haiti, defining cooperation protocols with the Gang Suppression Force and the reactivation of the National Commission for Disarmament, Dismantlement and Reintegration.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Right now, there are no consistent guarantees.—
Rep. Nick Menapace,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
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However, the platform charges a 20% commission from the rental, which goes toward covering insurance and guarantees, customer support and user verification.—
Emily Canal,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Reasonableness, like tolerance, is best seen as a convention of restraint, sustained because everyone remembers, however vaguely, what happens when the treaty collapses.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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But before the general election, Stewart and two other candidates are scrambling for delegates who will vote on May 16 during the Republican Party’s convention at the Mohegan Sun casino.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenant. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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