relate

1
as in to bond
to form a close personal relationship she and I relate so well it's almost like we're siblings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in to pertain
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

4
as in to associate
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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb relate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of relate are associate, combine, connect, join, link, and unite. While all these words mean "to bring or come together into some manner of union," relate suggests the existence of a real or presumed logical connection.

related what he observed to what he already knew

When can associate be used instead of relate?

The synonyms associate and relate are sometimes interchangeable, but associate stresses the mere fact of frequent occurrence or existence together in space or in logical relation.

opera is popularly associated with high society

When is combine a more appropriate choice than relate?

In some situations, the words combine and relate are roughly equivalent. However, combine implies some merging or mingling with corresponding loss of identity of each unit.

combined jazz and rock to create a new music

When could connect be used to replace relate?

Although the words connect and relate have much in common, connect suggests a loose or external attachment with little or no loss of identity.

a mutual defense treaty connected the two nations

When is it sensible to use join instead of relate?

While in some cases nearly identical to relate, join implies a bringing into contact or conjunction of any degree of closeness.

joined forces in an effort to win

When might link be a better fit than relate?

The words link and relate can be used in similar contexts, but link may imply strong connection or inseparability of elements still retaining identity.

a name forever linked with liberty

When would unite be a good substitute for relate?

The words unite and relate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, unite implies somewhat greater loss of separate identity.

the colonies united to form a republic

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 relate Kim continues sharing that the doctors told her the aneurysm was ‘just stress’ related, and then shows Kim getting an MRI scan. Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025 Shop related pet holiday deals 2025 Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. Christine Persaud, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025 However, Republicans, including Cole, have repeatedly said that Democrats’ healthcare requests are policy-related and do not belong in a discussion on appropriations. Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2025 But Pujols could relate firsthand to many other Padres players. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for relate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relate
Verb
  • The situation became even more uncomfortable when his child attempted to bond with her.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Valentina may prefer people but the two dogs bonded well.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • If so, Scoresby unwittingly described the effects of a shift in the quantity of solar radiation that reached Earth’s surface.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • On August 22, she was attacked while on a Charlotte light train in what police described as an unprovoked stabbing.
    Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Nevertheless, the process exposed evidence that pertained to him.
    Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The charges pertain to Comey’s testimony before the Senate in September 2020.
    Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The organization’s Green Heart Project, which studies the impact of better air quality on heart disease through urban greening, has found that increasing the number of trees and shrubs in an area can create lower levels of a blood marker associated with inflammation.
    Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Out of the more than 30 people charged by federal prosecutors for illicit-gaming offenses, just three are associated with the NBA, and most of the evidence has nothing to do with basketball games.
    Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Both sonnets offer the captive—and Cervantes—an opportunity to commemorate and mourn, to bear witness and to commune with the dead, at least for a bit.
    Ed Simon September 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
  • The universally accessible All Persons Trail at Broadmoor winds through a hemlock forest to a boardwalk, where hikers may commune with wildlife on Pike’s Pond.
    Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Three people familiar with the situation told Semafor that Hurley reached out to an email address the reporter believed belonged to the former mayor of New York.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Expectations further rose over the course of the president’s trip to Asia, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, with the hopes that the deal would produce more than just a low-key touchpoint between the two world leaders.
    Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • To be safe, test the oil on a small patch of skin before applying it to larger areas of your body or your face.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Wear red sweats and apply red face makeup.
    Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The official stated aim was to disrupt the flow of narcotics into the United States, with Venezuela identified as a central route used by trafficking organizations.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
  • He was then identified as the suspect in the video footage and arrested.
    Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Relate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relate. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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