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

Without that foundation, the math Dimon and Scaramucci are describing simply does not hold in the American context.

— Dan Schawbel, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
Prosecutors read records from the facility describing Clancy’s largely routine actions on her children’s birthdays and the anniversaries of the killings.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of describing

Verb

The chaotic off-season in college football has continued to play out in court rooms across the country, as athletes are suing the NCAA on a daily basis pertaining to their eligibility as part of the 2022 class.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The county has declined to release records pertaining to Moody’s case, despite releasing similar records in the past.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of pertaining

Verb

For creators, attending a Grand Slam can signal something to their audiences beyond an interest in tennis; for brands, the appeal lies partly in associating themselves with that cachet.

— Jessica Schiffer, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
On the one hand, associating Russia with the Eurasian steppe is a political move.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of associating

Verb

Why Baking Sheets Turn Brown and Sticky Oils and fats polymerize at high heat, bonding into a dark, sticky layer on the baking sheet.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2026
The Spurs have been growing their presence in Paris over the past year, with the team joining Wembanyama in France earlier this month for a series of public appearances and team-bonding events.

— Jared Weiss, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of bonding

Verb

Kronengold and Shaw decided to have some fun with Rao by telling the cast that Amita would have to spend several weekends alone in her trailer with the opossum.

— Emily Gould, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
But away from the sporting arena, the five-day games reveal something telling about why China's winning this technology race.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of telling

Verb

Instead of a pomade stick, Tauber recommends using Oribe Gel Sérum on coils, applying a generous amount around the hairline before smoothing it back with a boar bristle brush.

— Marci Robin, Allure, 21 Aug. 2026
Before applying, make sure the lender offers loans for your specific trade school or career program.

— Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of applying

Verb

Heritage Auctions said experts compared distinctive characteristics on the ball, including visible marks and other identifying details, with photographs from the England match and images of other Adidas Azteca balls used during the 1986 World Cup.

— George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
The prime minister of the Nordic country posted a screen shot of the plastic surgeon’s offer on Instagram but without identifying him.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026