RELATING Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

relating

verb

present participle of relate

as in communing

to form a close personal relationship she and I relate so well it's almost like we're siblings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in describing

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

as in pertaining

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

as in associating

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of relating Relationship science draws a useful line here between two ways of relating. — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Presenting one idea, and then relating it back to something political. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 July 2026 Its symbols represent a mathematical formula relating the time periods of celestial bodies’ motions in the sky. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 July 2026 By researching Seth, Jacob is trying to recapture or devise a purer form of relating. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 13 July 2026 So, remember, by finding weeds, noting their location, relating them to a condition, and choosing corrective actions based on that condition, gardeners can begin to form maintenance diagnoses for their gardens through weeds. — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026 The young players seem to like how Harbaugh is teaching and relating, too. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026 Some of them are old systems of knowledge, ways of relating the body to fertility, death, and survival. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026 The Pisces new moon creates opportunities for fulfillment through relating. — Usa Today, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for relating

Verb

Even so, in a digital world increasingly impacted by algorithms and all manner of AI, the allure of performers and music fans communing — live and in real time — cannot be underestimated.

— George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2026
But the main event was Madonna communing with the nearly 3,000 fans at the premiere, most of whom have followed her for decades.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 June 2026

Definition of communing

Verb

Asking Out Loud Which brings me to the last person in this column, and the only one who solved the problem rather than describing it.

— Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Though each of the nine reports labeled the cause of death as asphyxiation due to burial in snow, sections describing the conditions of the bodies were redacted.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of describing

Verb

What’s happening in Gaza is excessive retribution, and many Americans do not support that carnage, as recent polls pertaining to Israel indicate.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
In December, the Justice Department started releasing investigative records pertaining to Epstein and Maxwell in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

— Savannah Peters, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of pertaining

Verb

His sensitive book-hound son Emiliano (Lorenzo Urso) is Giuliano’s best friend, but Sebastiano forbids him from associating with the Arca family.

— Jay Weissberg, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
When snacks aren't available, children will stop associating your bag with snacks and will eventually no longer expect them.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of associating

Verb

Meanwhile, there’s a chance Indy is bonding with all the drama around this team, from Sophie Cunningham getting clotheslined to her public commentary about transgender people playing women's sports, and anything involving Clark.

— Geoff Clark OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Shakira ended up bonding big time with the adorable crew, who are part of the Ghetto Kids Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to use the arts to help disadvantaged and orphaned children.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of bonding

Verb

The scene gives us little, just Porsha telling NeNe the itinerary, showing her some clothes, and then moving right along.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Video of the incident that went viral online shows students telling a man authorities say is Morgan to get out of an Athens bar.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of telling

Verb

The court said federal children's privacy laws prevent Meta from applying age-verification tools to children under 13.

— CBS News, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
The Right Way to Clean an AC Unit Huckstadt recommends cleaning your AC unit by turning off its power, gently rinsing its exterior fins with your garden hose, and applying a coil cleaner if necessary.

— Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of applying

Verb

Many organizations devote enormous effort to identifying the right successor while overlooking the institution that successor will inherit.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Authorities have not released the victim's name or any other identifying information.

— Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026