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
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, 6 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
Antinous is the principal mortal antagonist in Homer’s Odyssey, which relates Odysseus’s difficulties while getting home and how Penelope and her son, Telemachus, struggled to maintain their authority on Ithaca.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Mar. 2026
There’s a lovely little formula called the small-angle approximation that relates the two.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2026
But the story Sorkin relates is really all about the insiders, their privileged lives, their thoughts and actions.
—The Know, Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2026
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 6 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
Antinous is the principal mortal antagonist in Homer’s Odyssey, which relates Odysseus’s difficulties while getting home and how Penelope and her son, Telemachus, struggled to maintain their authority on Ithaca.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Mar. 2026
There’s a lovely little formula called the small-angle approximation that relates the two.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2026
But the story Sorkin relates is really all about the insiders, their privileged lives, their thoughts and actions.
—The Know, Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relates
Verb
-
And that describes this Panthers offense to a tee.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The geological formation has been studied for decades, and that long record of scientific interest shapes how the company describes its role.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
According to the document, the recall pertains to 144,049 models built between September 2022 and February 2026.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Greene’s heart-to-heart media tour has been jarring liberals and anyone else who associates her with conspiratorial beliefs and outrageous comments.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
21 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Comedy is the throughline that bonds it all together.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Although her sons might not be interested in acting yet, there's another way Banks bonds with her kids.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That tells you everything about the disconnect people are feeling.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
-
District 8 needs a leader who works with the community, tells the truth and delivers real results, not political deals or insider arrangements.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The ruling only applies to two companies and Washington state, but the decision could prompt more legal challenges.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
This article was generated by the CA Earthquake Bot, software that analyzes structured information, such as data, and applies it to articles based on templates created by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The remains of the fourth man were found farther south, and Denton says that a forthcoming study in the journal Polar Record identifies him as Harry Peglar, who sailed on the HMS Terror.—
Tom Metcalfe,
Scientific American,
7 May 2026
-
One key step involved refining how the system identifies which parts of a molecule need detailed quantum treatment, reducing the overall computational cost.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Squeri then recounts what must rank as one of the most surprising CEO succession dramas ever.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
-
Sokol recounts the dizzying story of meeting her husband at a wedding in Moscow, which begins with her husband attending a nightclub in Dubai.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relates. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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