Definition of covenantnext
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
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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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 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 covenant
Noun
The Bible verse refers to when God made the rainbow as a sign of His covenant with Noah and all living creatures in the Jewish and Christian traditions. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 19 June 2026 In the passage from Genesis, God vowed to never again flood the Earth and declared the rainbow to be a symbol of his covenant with all living creatures. Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 19 June 2026 The portion of the Genesis verse cited by Roupp on his hat included God's promise to never again send a worldwide flood and the rainbow in the sky is the sign of that covenant. CBS News, 17 June 2026 San Jose Spotlight reported in 2024 that Los Gatos had about 130 racially restrictive covenants, which is racist language in property deeds that explicitly prevented homes from being sold to people of color. Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for covenant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenant
Noun
  • Each summit is meant to showcase the commitment to collective security — the all-for-one, one-for-all pledge enshrined in Article 5 of NATO’s treaty.
    Lorne Cook, Fortune, 5 July 2026
  • The decision, which was widely anticipated, does not end the pact immediately, but rather kicks off a decade-long annual review process for the three countries to negotiate on the treaty until the USMCA officially expires in 2036.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • In practice, governments still want contracts, jobs, and tax revenue at home.
    Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • Pavel Mintyukov signs contract extension with Ducks Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov has agreed to five-year contract extension worth $36 million with the Ducks, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • And ultimately both legislative chambers aligned behind including the requirement for the Department of Finance in the agreement with the governor.
    Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
  • It was approved by the City Council in January 2024, after some back-and-forth, as part of a new use agreement that gives the foundation access 50 days a year and allows the city the remainder of the scheduling.
    Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • Every Californian deserves fair wages, fair benefits, and the right to collectively bargain.
    Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
  • The restaurant’s cliff divers, magicians, puppeteers and roving performers have been bargaining with management for more than a year, after officially voting to unionize in November 2024.
    Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • Platner appealed to his supporters by promising political change and addressing issues such as affordability.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 July 2026
  • At least two data center developers in rural Johnson County working to get projects off the ground have promised benefits to their surrounding community, including promoting partnerships with Johnson County Community College.
    Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
Noun
  • The pact came as Canberra seeks to curb Beijing's growing security influence through defense deals with Pacific nations.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 July 2026
  • The licensing pact comes as Netflix is steadily diversifying its lineup with video games, podcasts and live events.
    William Earl, Variety, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • The price equation If OPEC turns the spigots to max, a complex operation with no guarantee of success, all that oil may have nowhere to go.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Credit Saint Credit Restoration Highlights Credit Saint offers three packages for credit repair services and a 90-day money-back guarantee for services.
    Brian Sloan,Dan Avery, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Good Night and Good Luck, The Ides of March, and Suburbicon are examples of films that are refined, ambitious, and outside the rules and conventions of Hollywood cinema.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 July 2026
  • Beltran regularly appears at Star Trek conventions and used to get in fights on Twitter.
    Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenant. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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