relation

noun

ri-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce relation (audio)
Definition of relationnext
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
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
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

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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

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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

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 relation But issues of foreign relations and immigration aren’t decided at the state level. — Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026 Harmony, as a force of relation, dominates; here is the telegraphing of a closed world accessible seemingly only to one. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026 Separation from the means of production was redeemed through consumption; investing the working class more deeply in the relations of production. — Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026 As relations between Beijing and Taiwan have become increasingly strained, the island also has become increasingly wary of security risks posed by China. — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for relation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relation
  1. interaction
  2. relative
  3. relationship
  4. partnership
  5. coupling
  6. cousin
  7. kinship
  8. association
Noun
  • Possible issues associated with consuming too much of the spice include allergic reactions that can range from mild irritation to serious symptoms; stomach pain; and potential adverse interactions with medications such as blood thinners.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The Moon enters balanced Libra, bringing greater attention to your career, reputation, and interactions with decision-makers.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of interaction
Noun
  • Suresh Raut, deputy manager at the Nepal Electricity Authority, who was at the rescue site when the body was discovered, said an 11-man team, including relatives of the missing, has been dispatched to search the surrounding area.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Ahmed Atwe, also waiting at the checkpoint, said his relative, Mohammed Juheir, was a fisherman from the border town of Naqoura who was captured at sea by Israeli forces a year ago, when a ceasefire agreement was in place.
    — Fadi Tawil, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of relative
Noun
  • On paper, Daphne and Eddie’s relationship was brief and lacked the connective tissue (DNA, legal documents) that might otherwise legitimize it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Elsewhere — yes, at goddamn Hamburger Hamlet — another couple is negotiating the terms of their relationship.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of relationship
Noun
  • The Athletic reported in May that it was estimated the Betway partnership would be worth in excess of £18m, among the highest of its kind in football in terms of a single partner.
    — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • This marks the continuation of the long-standing partnership, which is continually evolving in line with the changing requirements of the maritime environment, according to a press release.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of partnership
Noun
  • The mechanism itself is fundamentally blocked by recoil, quantum statistics, and the lack of sufficient collective coupling.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The coupling is equally beneficial for concerns like hyperpigmentation, melasma, and sun damage.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Allure, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of coupling
Noun
  • Albandari bin Ibrahim, a local, remembers when AlUla had a handful of sit-down restaurants, several of which were owned by her cousin.
    — Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • However, only Atef Najib, Assad’s cousin, a security chief infamous for his brutality, is likely to face execution, the rest having been tried in absentia.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of cousin
Noun
  • Carrington in particular models what some have termed an ecofeminist approach, one that does not appropriate animals for the artist’s own self-revelation but instead develops kinship across species.
    — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Many here say that, despite Iceland’s European roots, the country feels just as much kinship with the United States – if not more.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of kinship
Noun
  • Carter arranged for a pickup and distributed the clothing through the tenant association office.
    — Anne Kadet, Curbed, 10 Sep. 2026
  • If a document contains personal information that has no reason to appear publicly, ask whether the association can remove it, redact the information or restrict access.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of association

Browse Nearby Words

relating (to)
relation
relations
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Cite this Entry

“Relation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relation. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on relation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about relation

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