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
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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
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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
Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
The wide-ranging pact also includes amendment of a forbearance agreement with Palomar’s lenders, a requirement that lenders created after the public health care district breached financial covenants on more than $700 million in revenue bond debt.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
According to a news release from Harrell’s office, there have been at least two covenants restricting a property’s future use as a grocery store on properties within Seattle.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2025
Most of the racial covenants were placed in 1925; another dozen or so were added in 1951.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025
Lenders will demand stricter terms, higher coupons, and tighter covenants.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Once inhabited by some of the city’s wealthiest families, Troost was the target of restrictive covenants in the early 20th century that drew a distinct line of separation.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Borrowers are willing to pay a lot more in interest than the traditional lengthy, expensive syndication process that requires ratings from S&P and Fitch, tough covenants, and sometimes long.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
The wide-ranging pact also includes amendment of a forbearance agreement with Palomar’s lenders, a requirement that lenders created after the public health care district breached financial covenants on more than $700 million in revenue bond debt.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
According to a news release from Harrell’s office, there have been at least two covenants restricting a property’s future use as a grocery store on properties within Seattle.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2025
Most of the racial covenants were placed in 1925; another dozen or so were added in 1951.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025
Lenders will demand stricter terms, higher coupons, and tighter covenants.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Once inhabited by some of the city’s wealthiest families, Troost was the target of restrictive covenants in the early 20th century that drew a distinct line of separation.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenants
Noun
-
Unlike the United States or Russia, which have operated under arms control treaties for decades, China faces no such limits, signaling a new era defined not by two superpowers but by three nuclear peers.—
Naveed Jamali,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
None of them have officially tested warheads since the 1990s, but the relevant treaties have largely lapsed, and Russia is believed to have carried out secret tests.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
LeBlanc said the affected faculty members taught fewer classes than required by their contracts, and thus must reimburse the college.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The case type deals with general commercial contracts and arrangements.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The former Pac-12 schools still are under the conference’s old bowl agreements, which are set to expire after the season.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Alaska's emergency management division does not have formal agreements with the state's education department designating schools as emergency shelters, and neither agency has funding to help maintain schools specifically as emergency shelters.—
Emily Schwing,
NPR,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of the studios, congratulated Mulroney on her election.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Oscar nominee and Lord of the Rings alum Astin will have quite the task ahead of them at the top of next year as SAG-AFTRA returns to the negotiating table with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which collectively bargains on behalf of the major Hollywood studios.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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StubHub is among the companies collaborating with OpenAI directly since its debut of Operator in January, which promises to perform actions online.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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The film promises to explore Michael Jackson’s complex legacy through both iconic performances and personal moments.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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On the video side, Amazon this year has been busy signing up DSP partners, inking recent pacts with Netflix, Disney and Roku for programmatic ad sales.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
-
At the same time, the rules of origin in the Southeast Asian pacts are still hazy at best, with no firm commitments from either side.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The Phillies' qualifying offer guarantees that the team will receive compensation in the scenario that Schwarber signs elsewhere.—
Shaun McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
According to Cambodian labor law and International Labour Organization conventions, every worker has the right to freely join or withdraw from any union and only the latest membership is considered valid.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Nov. 2025
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Unlike holes in the wall populated primarily by regulars, Whistle Stop can welcome hundreds of first-timers around Colts games or major conventions.—
Bradley Hohulin,
IndyStar,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Covenants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenants. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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