1
as in treaties
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 contracts
a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation
I had to sign a covenant that I would return the rental car on time
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in agreements
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
1
as in bargains
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 promises
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 covenants
Anita Moncrease, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2026
Jesse challenges fast-food chains into signing covenants with PUSH to hire and distribute proportionally to their black customers; Noah turns up with a chain of Wendy's, Bojangles, and Church's Fried Chicken in both Chicago and New York.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
The circa-1974 building’s facade and some interior spaces must be preserved in keeping with historic covenants tied to the property.
—Madison Iszler, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Jan. 2026
The covenants contained language in property deeds that prevented the sale of land or homes to Black people and people of other ethnicities to keep certain areas exclusively White.
—Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 14 Jan. 2026
The onerous covenants include, among others, restricting WBD’s ability to modify, renew or terminate affiliation agreements.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
That means the length of developer control depends almost entirely on each neighborhood’s covenants and governing documents and, in some cases, whether the developer still holds unsold lots.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
Even if one's city doesn't have an ordinance concerning holiday lights, anyone who is part of homeowners association will likely have some guidelines on what is and isn't allowed in their covenants, conditions and restrictions.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 28 Nov. 2025
Deals often include covenants tied to attendance, sponsorship renewals or season-ticket deposits.
—Joseph Glatt, Sportico.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Noun
Black Detroiters were systematically excluded from quality neighborhoods by restrictive covenants embedded in property deeds.
—Anita Moncrease, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2026
Jesse challenges fast-food chains into signing covenants with PUSH to hire and distribute proportionally to their black customers; Noah turns up with a chain of Wendy's, Bojangles, and Church's Fried Chicken in both Chicago and New York.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
The circa-1974 building’s facade and some interior spaces must be preserved in keeping with historic covenants tied to the property.
—Madison Iszler, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Jan. 2026
The covenants contained language in property deeds that prevented the sale of land or homes to Black people and people of other ethnicities to keep certain areas exclusively White.
—Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 14 Jan. 2026
The onerous covenants include, among others, restricting WBD’s ability to modify, renew or terminate affiliation agreements.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
That means the length of developer control depends almost entirely on each neighborhood’s covenants and governing documents and, in some cases, whether the developer still holds unsold lots.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
Even if one's city doesn't have an ordinance concerning holiday lights, anyone who is part of homeowners association will likely have some guidelines on what is and isn't allowed in their covenants, conditions and restrictions.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 28 Nov. 2025
Deals often include covenants tied to attendance, sponsorship renewals or season-ticket deposits.
—Joseph Glatt, Sportico.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenants
Noun
-
We have long been taught that energy security is a matter of geography, defined by who owns the land, who controls the straits, and who signs the treaties.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Undergoing demographic changes After Minnesota gained statehood in 1858, a series of broken treaties, armed conflicts and several laws forced Indigenous people onto reservations, opening up large swathes of land for white settlement.—
Daniel Cueto-Villalobos,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Damaged and destroyed businesses ended their advertising contracts.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
There may be handshake deals or contracts that determine refunds companies are eligible for.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Board members took up several agenda items including a major budget update and labor agreements.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
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To cement Liberty Station as a future development site, the city is required under a 2023 court ruling to keep making progress toward completing compensation agreements and then working on plans for future development of Liberty Station.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In this Gothic fantasy debut, Leena Al-Sayer bargains her ability to see the dead in order to pay for the expensive medicine her brother Rami needs to live.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Those restraints are lawful because the NFL collectively bargains them with the NFL players association.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The association’s language promises equity, but its bylaws do not deliver.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
7 Mar. 2026
-
That's a lot more than the Headphone (1)'s maximum of 80 hours, and even the budget Headphone Pro from Nothing's subsidiary brand CMF which promises 100 hours.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The deal is Washington’s latest on the continent, with more than a dozen nations agreeing to similar pacts recently.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Under the American and British flags, Diego Garcia defends the Indo-Pacific region against aggressors who do not trouble their consciences about laws, pacts, or the rights of weaker nations.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The guerrillas agreed to lay down their weapons, face justice, and compensate their victims in exchange for political guarantees and government promises to develop poor, rural areas that gave rise to the FARC in the 1960s.—
John Otis,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
-
No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Producer Fortes, founder of Fiascocrafts, also emphasizes the goal of shaking up conventions through a female lens.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Mar. 2026
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There are inexcusable attacks on civilians — on hospitals and on a girls’ school in Minab, killing dozens of children — without regard to United Nations conventions and international law.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Covenants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenants. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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