covenant 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

covenant

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Somehow, this vague entity presented Richard with a covenant that would save the members of the settlement, who had resorted to eating dirt as well as other corpses. Jen Chaney, Vulture, 27 May 2026 In 2024, the district agreed to accept $3 million from Ishbia in exchange for placing a 50-year restrictive covenant on Centennial and Elder Lane beaches, though as of early 2026, the donation pact had yet to be executed. Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026 The language of covenant, liberty, moral responsibility, human dignity, and redemption helped shape the nation’s moral imagination from the very beginning. Ari Berman, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026 Our covenant as an American people is e pluribus unum, out of many, one. CBS News, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for covenant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenant
Noun
  • The Chemical Weapons Convention, an arms control treaty signed by more than 190 states, that focuses on the production and use of chemical weapons, designates white phosphorus an incendiary agent rather than a chemical weapon.
    Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 6 June 2026
  • Xi’s visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the two countries’ 1961 Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, China’s only mutual defense treaty, which was signed less than a decade after Chinese troops fought with North Korea in the Korean war.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
Noun
  • During his contract year with the Braves in 2022, Swanson appeared in all 162 games and made 161 starts at shortstop, logging 1,433 innings at a premium defensive position while also producing 25 home runs and 96 RBIs.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 7 June 2026
  • The cap limits how much each team can spend on player salaries, but the math is not always as simple as adding up contracts.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Noun
  • On Monday, the Plano City Council will vote on an agreement for the Stars to build a new arena at the Willow Bend Mall site.
    S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 9 June 2026
  • Under the plea agreement, Copeland faces a minimum of 40 years in prison, a dishonorable discharge from the Navy, forfeiture of all pay and a reduction in rank.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • The discharge petition forced a vote on the Faster Labor Contracts Act, a bill requiring employers to bargain within 10 days of union certification to prevent employers from stalling first-time union contracts.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 9 June 2026
  • Before Haynes bargained with vascular surgeon Dua to have a smoke, Mark Picard, 53, was telling his story to podiatric surgeon Sara Rose-Sauld.
    Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • Find beauty in the ephemeral, and gratitude in what is not promised, and always invest in the people that want to see you blossom.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 June 2026
  • Though there are still many unknowns regarding the full effect of ayahuasca on the human experience, if my own is any indication, the mental and emotional gates this plant can open seem promising.
    Michaela Trimble, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Noun
  • According to the Islamic Republic of Iran broadcasting, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the pact is still being reviewed by the country’s top officials.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 13 June 2026
  • Jackson is entering the final year of his two-year pact — signed in 2025 — and Young had his fifth-year option picked up in April.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • When installed correctly, with the proper slope, however, many models offer some protection from drizzles or light showers, but this isn’t a guarantee.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
  • First, trust needs to come through technical guarantees rather than geographic restrictions.
    Leonard Lim, Fortune, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • The American Airlines Center in Dallas has been floated as a host for a special convention in September for the midterm election.
    Jack Fink, CBS News, 7 June 2026
  • Now, it has been transformed into a haunted attraction that hosts history tours, paranormal investigations and conventions.
    Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenant. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on covenant

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster