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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Funds that cater to institutional investors focused on loans to middle-market borrowers that had more protective covenants and wider spreads, a feature that can also buffer potential losses, Gross said at Semafor World Economy in Washington, DC.
—Miles Weiss, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Your neighbor may be violating the covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs).
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Your neighbor may be violating the covenants, conditions and restrictions.
—Jeanne Phillips, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
For decades, discriminatory housing policies — including redlining, racially restrictive covenants and predatory land-sale contracts — systematically extracted the very wealth from Black families that fuels neighborhood investment.
—Tonika Lewis Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Now, the statutory trust is no longer an area of concern, but SWP believes that the land is still subject to other restrictive covenants about development.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Early 20th-century deed covenants explicitly barred Black, Chinese, or Japanese residents from buying or renting homes in the neighborhood.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
The county also created a mapping tool that allows the public to explore where these covenants existed and see how they were used over time.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
Bond and financial covenants in loans and financial transactions are an example.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Funds that cater to institutional investors focused on loans to middle-market borrowers that had more protective covenants and wider spreads, a feature that can also buffer potential losses, Gross said at Semafor World Economy in Washington, DC.
—Miles Weiss, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Your neighbor may be violating the covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs).
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Your neighbor may be violating the covenants, conditions and restrictions.
—Jeanne Phillips, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
For decades, discriminatory housing policies — including redlining, racially restrictive covenants and predatory land-sale contracts — systematically extracted the very wealth from Black families that fuels neighborhood investment.
—Tonika Lewis Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Now, the statutory trust is no longer an area of concern, but SWP believes that the land is still subject to other restrictive covenants about development.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Early 20th-century deed covenants explicitly barred Black, Chinese, or Japanese residents from buying or renting homes in the neighborhood.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
The county also created a mapping tool that allows the public to explore where these covenants existed and see how they were used over time.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenants
Noun
-
What Villars told me is that the ocean economy is entering a phase of decentralized and cross-sector collaboration, instead of grand inter-governmental treaties.—
Natalie Sum Yue Chung,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
-
Mexican officials said existing bilateral treaties mandate strict confidentiality.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One of the groups that has complained for years about a lack of funding has been the nonprofits that provide services under contracts with the state.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
-
Spilka said that both the Senate and the House provide the auditor with financial information every year, and that the public can find procurements, contracts, expenditures and salaries on the state Comptroller’s website.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
According to an i3 representative, the company has rights-of-way agreements with Libertyville, Wauconda, Lake Zurich, Vernon Hills, Warren Township, Grayslake, Antioch, Winthrop Harbor, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Cary — which is primarily in McHenry County — and Mundelein.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Finance Chief Sarah Friar has expressed concerns over the company's ability to fund future compute agreements if the revenue slowdown continues, the outlet reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The union usually bargains in the same year as performers’ union SAG-AFTRA and directors’ union the Directors Guild of America.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Apr. 2026
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One potential—though untested—workaround would be for conferences, which are private entities, to serve as a joint employer that bargains with a players’ union.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The brand promises a comfortable fit – and breathability – for pets of different sizes.—
Tanya Edwards,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
Sunday morning promises to be another marathon with miles of cheers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pickett and Grier are signed to one-year pacts.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
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But the deals are done project by project, rather than via the older model of pacts that paid out millions in development funds and compensation over three or four years.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Technically, these guarantees are up for negotiation in every rookie contract.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
Warranty Most full-coverage recliner slipcovers won’t actually have warranties, although several will have 10-year guarantees at the very least.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Rather than a traditional museum setting, the library offers a more open environment, where viewers may come across the work outside the conventions of gallery behavior.—
Miguel Sirgado,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
The outcomes could be benign, tinkering around the edges of existing conventions, or more concerning limitations to the Fed's ability to use its balance sheet in a crisis.—
Steve Liesman,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Covenants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenants. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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