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
Andrew Fowler, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2025
Additionally, some portion of the private debt premium may be linked to the fact that borrowers are willing to pay a higher yield for flexibility on covenants and deal structure.
—Wellington Management Contributor, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
The labyrinthine saga dating from 1977, when the original Grove Isle covenant was signed, provokes intense head-scratching.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
The company entered into several financing modification agreements with Western Alliance Bank during 2024, adjusting covenants and extending maturity dates.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Noun
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
Additionally, some portion of the private debt premium may be linked to the fact that borrowers are willing to pay a higher yield for flexibility on covenants and deal structure.
—Wellington Management Contributor, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
The labyrinthine saga dating from 1977, when the original Grove Isle covenant was signed, provokes intense head-scratching.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
The company entered into several financing modification agreements with Western Alliance Bank during 2024, adjusting covenants and extending maturity dates.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenant
Noun
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This body crafted the 1958 UN treaty on road transport, which has been signed by 58 countries including France and the Netherlands.—
Carlton Reid,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
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However, the Minuteman III hasn't carried multiple warheads since 2014 in compliance with arms reduction treaties, according to the U.S. Air Force.—
Brett Tingley,
Space.com,
21 May 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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Aaron Rodgers still has yet to sign a contract and the quarterback situation is a complete question mark.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
Noun
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In law enforcement, the legally binding agreements, approved by all parties, typically stem from Justice Department investigations into widespread patterns of misconduct.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
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The agreements, called consent decrees, are used as a monitoring system at police departments where the Justice Department has found a pattern of misconduct.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
22 May 2025
Verb
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That would allow monopsony on the buyer side to bargain with monopoly on the seller side.—
John C. Goodman,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
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The changes were enforced unilaterally with Starbucks failing to bargain with union members over the new policy, the group said.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Sacbee.com,
20 May 2025
Verb
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On good days, Mia was promised executive roles at Combs’ companies and felt the two were best friends.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
30 May 2025
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In short, exosomes are promising in theory, mysterious in practice, and poorly regulated in reality.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
Wired News,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Moscow’s stationing fission or fusion bombs in orbit would violate the Outer Space Treaty - the fundamental international pact that governs space missions across the solar system.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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Yet, the average deal for an F1 team generated $6.22 million, more than eight times the average pact for an NFL team, which is $745,000, the SponsorUnited report said.—
Jason Clinkscales,
Sportico.com,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Back injuries are tricky, and there are no guarantees.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
28 May 2025
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The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported the Cubs offered Crow-Armstrong a guarantee in the range of $60-70 million in March before talks were tabled.—
Phil Rogers,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Outdated conventions needed to be cleared away, Strindberg said.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
22 May 2025
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For example, at the BRS conventions the U.S. was excluded from participating in the discussion on the exemption to decide whether to ban UV-328, the chemical used in airplane manufacturing, despite the potential ban’s implications for American manufacturers.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenant. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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