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

Federal law dictates foreign policy and diplomatic relations, protecting heads of state from being arrested by local officials such as Mamdani. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2026

No formal investigation will be opened, the IOC said, because the complaint by the rights group FairSquare did not relate to FIFA’s or Infantino’s specific relations with the Olympic body. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026

In an email to PEOPLE, the Lancashire Constabulary, which serves Blackpool, said police were not called in relation to the incident. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026

No formal investigation will be opened, the IOC said, because the complaint by rights group FairSquare did not relate to FIFA’s or Infantino’s specific relations with the Olympic body. — ABC News, 24 July 2026