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
If a member is found to be out of step with covenants, church leaders can revoke certain privileges and can even move to excommunicate the member. — Saige Miller, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026 In 1948, the Supreme Court found such covenants judicially unenforceable, but Specht explains how communities upheld them nonetheless. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 And pets aren’t the only thing Cedarfield regulates, its covenants also prohibit residents from drying or airing clothing and bedding outdoors except in areas approved by the HOA board. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026 During the last legislative session, Matos succesfully pushed part of his grocery affordability agenda, including a bill to end the practice of restrictive covenants, that stop grocery stores from being able to open. — Wheeler Cowperthwaite, The Providence Journal, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for covenant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenant
Noun
  • The United States and Russia, the world’s two largest nuclear powers, have failed to preserve the last remaining treaty constraining their strategic arsenals.
    — Pedro Sánchez, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Maxim says that funding for Indigenous communities is a federal obligation based on treaties and other agreements with tribes and should be standard and irrevocable.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Fresh off a max contract extension, Reaves has had a quiet yet ruthlessly efficient start to the year in Doncic’s shadow.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Chicago parking garage workers have ratified a new contract one day after reaching a tentative deal that ended a four-day strike.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The talks produced no major breakthrough, aside from an agreement to swap a large number of prisoners, with the exact figure still to be announced.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The latest diplomatic developments also included progress toward giving European representatives a place in future negotiations, an issue Kyiv has repeatedly said is essential to any lasting peace agreement.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Many fear that Lebanon is bargaining from a position of extreme weakness and that such imbalance will yield only a weaker state, stripped of sovereign decision-making.
    — Tamirace Fakhoury, The Conversation, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Teamsters Local 727 accused the parking companies of refusing to bargain in good faith and engaging in unfair labor practices.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • One explanation for the low engagement is that agents are promising to automate tasks that are already easy.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Macy’s is promising discounts of up to 70% off designer apparel, bags, beauty and more.
    — Tim Chan, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The two Syrian officials said that a decision had already been made — but not publicly announced — for Syria to join the Mecca pact, while the regional official said talks were still ongoing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The three members have since held emergency talks — Türkiye’s parliament ratified the pact on Thursday.
    — Damian Zane, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • These products are more complex than basic term insurance, though, so buyers should carefully review policy illustrations, guarantees, fees and potential cash value performance before purchasing.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • But there’s no guarantee that individual vibe-coders using Claude would be so careful with their efforts, even with Anthropic guardrails against IP theft in place.
    — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Social convention dictates that you not be caught liking Hoffman’s posts or following her yourself.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Lexington’s convention and visitor’s bureau launched FilmLEX two years ago to promote Kentucky’s incentive program, which launched in 2022, and help producers on the ground.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenant. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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