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
Relevance
2
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of relation
During Zelenskyy's high-stakes visit to the White House in February, relations grew tense as the world leaders discussed attempts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
—
Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
Not that station relations have always been entirely chummy; sometimes the cosmic carrot can turn into a stick.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
That designation was lifted in 2023, a decision viewed by some diplomats as an effort to improve relations ahead of a visit by then–Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
While these developments portend an improvement in relations in the months ahead, a formal trade deal has not been signed.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for relation
Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
Not that station relations have always been entirely chummy; sometimes the cosmic carrot can turn into a stick.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
That designation was lifted in 2023, a decision viewed by some diplomats as an effort to improve relations ahead of a visit by then–Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
While these developments portend an improvement in relations in the months ahead, a formal trade deal has not been signed.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for relation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relation
Noun
-
However, Koufax appeared unbothered by the seating arrangement as he was photographed having a friendly interaction with the couple.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
But challenges and criticisms remain, including a recent mass shooting at a homeless encampment, state and federal consent decrees and questions about police’s interaction with federal immigration enforcement.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Early that afternoon, the officers walked into a conference room where about a dozen relatives—including Ryan’s mother, stepfather, father, and three siblings, plus Emily’s mother and father—sat in chairs in a semicircle.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
On June 20, 1940, someone told the night policeman, Tip Hunter, that Elbert Williams, a relative of Elisha Davis, had been overheard proposing a meeting between the Brownsville and Jackson NAACP branches.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Instead, the program appears to rely heavily on sensationalized accounts from secondary sources with no direct knowledge or relationship with him or his family.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Several prominent business leaders have already voiced cautious optimism, seeing in Mamdani a chance to reset the relationship between City Hall and commerce.—
Sally Susman,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Wolvaardt tried to keep the chase alive through partnerships with Sinalo Jafta (16) and Annerie Dercksen, who scored 35.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The orbital laboratory is operated through a global partnership of space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
People of all sexes and gender identities have a role to play.—
Beth Ann Mayer,
Parents,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The World Ultimate Athletics Championships, which debut next September (as a finals-only global, international competition), are excluding men’s triple jump and women’s hammer throw, as well as shot put and discus for both sexes.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Elizabeth’s determination not to settle the succession gave rise to fierce rivalry between the claimants to the English throne, among them Mary, Queen of Scots and her son James VI; James’s cousin Arbella Stuart; Lady Katherine Grey and her descendants; and Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
According to a post on the Reddit Wedding Shaming forum, a woman detailed the fiasco surrounding her cousin’s wedding.—
Emily Strohm,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In Texas, kids taken into state custody leave a kinship placement twice as often as the nationwide rate, according to a USA TODAY analysis of federal data tracking kids removed from their homes in a four-year period.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Murphy, who like Steininger and Yurkevich has been exploring the question for its own sake, independent of his day job, feels a kinship across the centuries with Prince Rupert.—
Erica Klarreich,
Quanta Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And Jack Ciattarelli has made his association with the president a big part of his campaign.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Mamdani initially tried to stay on-message, offering a quick disavowal of an unsavory association or controversial past statement and pivoting back his agenda.—
Ben Adler,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Relation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relation. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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