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
  • Without a treaty change or a Pentagon-wide policy, commands and contractors retain broad discretion over whether a family can return home to pursue divorce and custody in an American court.
    — Brianna Keilar, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Federal agents negotiated treaties in the 1850s with more than 130 Indigenous communities in the new state of California, setting aside roughly 7% of the state for reservations.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The contract bars balance-billing patients beyond insured rates and limits annual adjustments to South Region medical and transportation inflation markers.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The Hollywood guild is giving its national executive director, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, a contract extension and elevating him to CEO.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The agreement is tied to Lloyd and cannot be transferred to another campus.
    — Tim Lonergan, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • And the ratings would certainly suggest the country is in firm agreement on the Celebrity Traitors superiority this season.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • After a series of calls, the company bargained down the ransom to $1 million, Yousuf said.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Advertisement In this way, a war intended to deter future American attacks could instead strengthen a regional consensus that Iran must be dealt a serious blow rather than accommodated or bargained with.
    — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The government also promised 15,000 additional places in higher education, introduced across the next two years, and increases in student grants linked to inflation from the start of the next academic year.
    — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Lula has promised expensive measures that appeal to his grassroots base.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In August, Saudi Arabia signed a mutual-defense pact with Turkey and nuclear-armed Pakistan.
    — Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Hoichoi pact follows two other high-profile licensing moves.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Obviously, there’s no guarantee a healthy Hurts would win those awards.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Past performance definitely is no guarantee of future results, of course.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Cobos explains that, as with Nené’s ensembles, following period conventions to the letter didn’t necessarily make sense for Carlos’s wardrobe.
    — Elaina Patton, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Everything the Cougars are doing these days seems to spit in the eye of convention.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenant. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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