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
Joshua Stanton, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
After violating financial covenants for more than $700 million in revenue bonds, Palomar was forced to sign a forbearance agreement with lenders, committing to hire outside consultants and create a turnaround plan.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
The company also reported compliance with all financial covenants related to its Series 2022 Bonds.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2025
These guardrails were written as a guarantee into the state’s bond covenants to ensure that future politicians would not reverse this commitment to fiscal stability.
—Andrew Fowler, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Noun
In short, the Catholic Church affirmed that the Jews are part of a living covenant and that antisemitism — including false charges of deicide — are heresy.
—Joshua Stanton, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
After violating financial covenants for more than $700 million in revenue bonds, Palomar was forced to sign a forbearance agreement with lenders, committing to hire outside consultants and create a turnaround plan.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
The company also reported compliance with all financial covenants related to its Series 2022 Bonds.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2025
These guardrails were written as a guarantee into the state’s bond covenants to ensure that future politicians would not reverse this commitment to fiscal stability.
—Andrew Fowler, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenant
Noun
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But even now, decades later, the U.S. has fewer missile interceptors deployed (44) than the treaty permitted (100).—
Matthew Bunn,
The Conversation,
6 June 2025
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The United States is one of the 184 countries, plus the European Union, that have signed the treaty.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Even so, Brown’s massive contract and frustrating offensive season (32 percent on 3s, 53 percent on 2s, worst true shooting percentage since his third year) might mean that there is more downside risk than potential trade suitors are seeing or appreciating at the moment.—
Danny Leroux,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
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The Longs’ daughter, Mary Long, played with Slammers FC Girls Academy before attending Duke and eventually signing a pro contract with the Current.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
31 May 2025
Noun
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Another item that could go before the commission on June 12 is an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would deputize city police officers with immigration enforcement powers.—
Tess Riski,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2025
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While there was agreement to exchange more prisoners, Moscow and Kyiv remain deeply divided over how to bring the costly and bitter Ukraine war to an end.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Medicine and equipment was stolen amid the fighting, so nurses have learned to bargain for it at nearby pharmacies.—
Sophie Neiman,
Christian Science Monitor,
5 May 2025
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The two unions have joined together to bargain, with negotiations continuing over the past week on issues like holidays, alternative work weeks, time off, health insurance and retirement plans.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2025
Verb
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Electric boats have been moving along nicely in the last five years, but this new 45-footer from Sialia promises to be a watershed design, with its carbon-fiber hull, 12-passenger capacity, generous seating and galley in the cockpit, and choice of two- or three-staterooms with head and shower.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
10 June 2025
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The majority of investors who put their money into such schemes in the past lost everything or were left with casks not worth nearly the value that they were promised.—
Felipe Schrieberg,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
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That spring, Disney and Comcast negotiated a pact that outlined the governance of the service while it was jointly owned by the two companies and also provided a blueprint to dissolve their partnership.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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During his first term, Trump ditched Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.—
Parisa Hafezi,
USA Today,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Rings of Power, for instance, was not officially renewed for months and months when season 3 was supposedly going to be a guarantee initially.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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There were few strings attached: the U.S. Small Business Administration offered full guarantees to borrowers and agreed to forgive the loans approved by banks as long as they were used for paying employee wages and other overhead costs.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
Noun
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In another time, the Bitcoin 2025 convention at Las Vegas’ Venetian hotel casino last week might have been most memorable for its cringeworthy moments.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2025
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What To Know As Newsweek previously reported, video shows Booker speaking at the Democratic convention Saturday in California.—
Hollie Silverman
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenant. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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