1
as in communes
to form a close personal relationship
she and I relate so well it's almost like we're siblings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in describes
to give an oral or written account of in some detail
we asked our uncle to relate the story of his visit to communist Russia many years ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pertains
to have a relation or connection
how does your comment relate to what the rest of us have been talking about for the last hour?
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in associates
to think of (something) in combination
most Americans probably relate tea to the United Kingdom and coffee to the U.S.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of relates
McQuail relates social constructionism’s influences on media studies first to the theories of propaganda and ideology and second to critical theory.
—
Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 May 2026
Bastian relates that Delta collected $9 billion, more than four times the number in 2014, and though Amex doesn’t break out its revenues from the co-brand, the Delta experience suggests it’s scored a moonshot.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 9 May 2026
In the epilogue to the book, Olson relates a story about how an influencer named Lyla Biggs posted a video on TikTok right before Black Friday in 2023 featuring the company’s Casey low-rise baggy jeans in the Astrid wash.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Author Daniel Kraus won in the fiction category for his book Angel Down, a story of World War I soldiers who find a fallen angel amongst the dead in No Man's Land - a tale Kraus relates entirely within one sentence.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 4 May 2026
But Ohm later relates his story, meant to finish up a trilogy, to Fiona (Florence Ordesh), who tends bar at the Bilberry Woods Hotel in Ireland, where the author has traveled to spread his parents’ ashes.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 1 May 2026
In David Sington’s 2015 documentary of the same title, Yarris himself relates his tale, keeping those of us unfamiliar with the outcome of his epic struggle to clear his name in taut suspense until the very end.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Considered narrowly, statesmanship relates primarily to politics and government.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
There’s a lovely little formula called the small-angle approximation that relates the two.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2026
Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 May 2026
Bastian relates that Delta collected $9 billion, more than four times the number in 2014, and though Amex doesn’t break out its revenues from the co-brand, the Delta experience suggests it’s scored a moonshot.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 9 May 2026
In the epilogue to the book, Olson relates a story about how an influencer named Lyla Biggs posted a video on TikTok right before Black Friday in 2023 featuring the company’s Casey low-rise baggy jeans in the Astrid wash.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Author Daniel Kraus won in the fiction category for his book Angel Down, a story of World War I soldiers who find a fallen angel amongst the dead in No Man's Land - a tale Kraus relates entirely within one sentence.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 4 May 2026
But Ohm later relates his story, meant to finish up a trilogy, to Fiona (Florence Ordesh), who tends bar at the Bilberry Woods Hotel in Ireland, where the author has traveled to spread his parents’ ashes.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 1 May 2026
In David Sington’s 2015 documentary of the same title, Yarris himself relates his tale, keeping those of us unfamiliar with the outcome of his epic struggle to clear his name in taut suspense until the very end.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Considered narrowly, statesmanship relates primarily to politics and government.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
There’s a lovely little formula called the small-angle approximation that relates the two.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relates
Verb
-
So far, this describes Marilyn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
The company also describes the aircraft as supporting ISR, electronic warfare, communications relay, and even launching effects payloads.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
There is still so much to do, and not all of it pertains to football.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
-
According to an update from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), spotted by MotorTrend, the issue pertains to the vehicle's brake rotors—the circular metal discs that spin with your car's wheels—not the wheels themselves.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The third vessel, for example, contains circular discs symbolizing water, which Chan associates with rebirth.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
In practical terms, that means Forest now associates humans with food and safety, the opposite of what a wild deer needs to survive.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Potter starred in the film as Carin Fisher, a fellow student whom Patch bonds with.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
-
Comedy is the throughline that bonds it all together.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The table tells a harsher story.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Titanic Sinks Tonight tells the story of the final hours of the most famous sea disaster of all time.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Section 1033 applies to involuntary conversions, such as where your property is condemned by the government or damaged or destroyed by a fire, storm or defendant.—
Robert W. Wood,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Thanks to its smooth, dewy formula, the moisturizer applies beautifully beneath makeup.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The bill would require developers to create and publish a transparency framework explaining how the company applies industry standards, measures model capabilities and chance of catastrophic risk, and identifies and responds to safety incidents.—
Jenna Schweikert,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
LoGiudice identifies three drivers behind inconsistency that rarely get discussed together.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
What Happened Yesterday recounts some of Sturniolo's meaningful life milestones, from learning how to drive to beginning therapy to navigating online fame.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
-
Steven Soderbergh recounts how Lean, who started out as an editor, would habitually shape a first cut without dialogue or sound, letting the images alone tell the story — an approach Soderbergh stole and still uses to this day.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relates. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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