Synonyms of relation

relation

noun

ri-ˈlā-shən 

1

as in interaction

relations plural doings between individuals or groups

relations between the rival newspapers remained friendly despite their competition for the same stories

Synonyms & Similar Words

• interaction
• intercourse
• dealings
• commerce
• interrelationship
• companionship
• company
• cross-fertilization
• cross-pollination

2

as in relative

a person connected with another by blood or marriage

he and I are relations on my mother's side

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relative
• cousin
• family
• kin
• kinsman
• in-law
• folk
• house
• people
• lineage
• tribe
• blood
• race
• clan
• stock
• kissing cousin
• kindred
• line
• kinswoman
• kinsfolk
• kinfolk

3

as in relationship

the fact or state of having something in common

there's no relation between you losing your favorite baseball hat and your team losing the game

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relationship
• kinship
• connection
• association
• correlation
• linkage
• affinity
• bearing
• link
• liaison
• similarity
• resemblance
• interrelation
• relevance
• bond
• tie
• pertinence
• affiliation
• union
• materiality
• accordance
• alliance
• agreement
• correspondence
• likeness
• identicalness
• conformity
• sameness
• community
• alikeness
• congruity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• variance
• variability
• incompatibility
• incongruity
• incongruence
• incongruousness

4

as in partnership

the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters)

our intramural baseball team had a relation with the other baseball teams in the area

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relationship
• partnership
• association
• collaboration
• connection
• cooperation
• affiliation
• interaction
• union
• liaison
• alliance
• dealings
• merger
• confederation
• solidarity
• kinship
• integration
• interrelation
• exchange
• hookup
• interconnection
• reciprocity
• tie-up
• unification
• linkup
• incorporation
• unity
• symbiosis
• intimacy
• affinity
• sympathy
• attachment
• rapport
• business
• oneness
• mutualism
• companionship
• closeness
• company
• togetherness
• bed
• league
• fellowship
• colleagueship
• cahoots

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dissociation
• dissolution
• separation
• division
• breakup
• split
• severance
• disaffiliation
• divorce
• alienation
• parting
• disunion
• estrangement

5

as in sex

relations plural sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis

a law that prohibits relations between close relatives

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sex
• intercourse
• coupling
• mating
• commerce
• sex act
• sexual relations
• copulation
• making love
• sexual intercourse
• coitus
• coition
• getting it on
• lovemaking
• copulating
• sexuality
• congress
• breeding
• fornication
• safe sex
• carnality
• insemination
• dalliance
• hanky-panky
• whoopee

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of relation

While Roblox enjoys seemingly cozy relations with the president, child safety advocates want his administration to investigate the company, and state governments are taking it to court. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2026

Under the law, moral offenses — including adultery and same-sex relations — can carry penalties of up to 100 lashes. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

Anspach said Ruth DeWitt, Explore Lawrence’s director of community relations, picked up the banner at the hotel. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026

Among other things, the 1960s meetings known as Vatican II revolutionized the church’s relations with other Christians, Jews and people of other faiths and allowed Mass to be celebrated in the vernacular rather than Latin. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026