as in vows
a person's solemn declaration that he or she will do or not do something
I need your oath that you won't do anything until I've had time to make a decision
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Recent Examples of oaths
Their oaths to serving the Constitution and the people of the United States are treated as sacred, binding members to an ideology that leads to action.
—
Alexander Lowie, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
After new members took their oaths, Sneed invited the audience to stand and applaud out-going member Byers-Bailey, who has served on the board for 12 years.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 10 Dec. 2025
In September Congolese politicians swore oaths of fealty to President Tshisekedi, a ritual straight out of Mobutu's playbook.
—Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025
In New York and Charleston, thousands publicly signed loyalty oaths to the king within months of the army’s arrival.
—Time, 9 Oct. 2025
McCarthy and his cronies engineered a hysteria over left-wing ideologies and their sympathizers, encouraging tactics like loyalty oaths and provoking paranoia over a suggestion that communist spies were omnipresent in America.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
Indeed, since changes in producer prices are an early warning of coming price boosts at the household level, economic policy makers in the administration and at the Fed who swore oaths to do their jobs should miss some sleep.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025
Alexander Lowie, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
After new members took their oaths, Sneed invited the audience to stand and applaud out-going member Byers-Bailey, who has served on the board for 12 years.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 10 Dec. 2025
In September Congolese politicians swore oaths of fealty to President Tshisekedi, a ritual straight out of Mobutu's playbook.
—Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025
In New York and Charleston, thousands publicly signed loyalty oaths to the king within months of the army’s arrival.
—Time, 9 Oct. 2025
McCarthy and his cronies engineered a hysteria over left-wing ideologies and their sympathizers, encouraging tactics like loyalty oaths and provoking paranoia over a suggestion that communist spies were omnipresent in America.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
Indeed, since changes in producer prices are an early warning of coming price boosts at the household level, economic policy makers in the administration and at the Fed who swore oaths to do their jobs should miss some sleep.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oaths
Noun
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The couple exchanged vows on April 9, 2022, at the Peltz family's estate in Palm Beach, Fla.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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The New Jersey native vows to focus on community initiatives and educational programs supporting at-risk youth following his early release.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The two countries did made tentative overtures in the late 1990s, when Iranians were electing politicians on promises of greater personal freedom and openness.—
Karl Vick,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
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Calvo said two additional campaign promises will be addressed Tuesday, including tackling the high cost of water service and pushing for property tax cuts for residents 65 and older.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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New Year’s resolutions can be a helpful push toward progress, but many of us make the same pledges each year, with little success.—
Bella Webb,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
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Marharyta Fal / Frontliner via Getty Images Until recently, much of the allies’ focus was on pledges of military aid for Ukraine’s forces and possible contributions to an international reassurance force.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oaths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oaths. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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