1
as in treaty
a formal agreement between two or more nations or peoples
the two countries signed a peace covenant that, it was hoped, would put an end to decades of bitter conflict
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Relevance
2
as in contract
a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation
I had to sign a covenant that I would return the rental car on time
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in agreement
an arrangement about action to be taken
the covenant that existed among neighbors in olden times whereby they would quickly respond to the call to help put out one another's house fires
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1
as in to bargain
to come to an arrangement as to a course of action
a traditional rule held that a husband could not enter into a covenant with his wife, because that was the equivalent of covenanting with himself
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to promise
to make a solemn declaration of intent
the home buyers had to covenant that they would restore and keep the house for at least 10 years in exchange for a low mortgage rate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of covenant
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2025
Culture Shift: When Trust Becomes Contagious Upon matriculation, every Hope Forward student signs a covenant, promising to give back to their alma mater every year for the rest of their lives, beginning the year after graduation.
—Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
In short, the Catholic Church affirmed that the Jews are part of a living covenant and that antisemitism — including false charges of deicide — are heresy.
—Joshua Stanton, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
After violating financial covenants for more than $700 million in revenue bonds, Palomar was forced to sign a forbearance agreement with lenders, committing to hire outside consultants and create a turnaround plan.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Noun
The company disclosed non-compliance with certain financial covenants under its Credit Agreement, which was waived by the lender, and highlighted ongoing efforts to refinance existing debt.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2025
Culture Shift: When Trust Becomes Contagious Upon matriculation, every Hope Forward student signs a covenant, promising to give back to their alma mater every year for the rest of their lives, beginning the year after graduation.
—Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
In short, the Catholic Church affirmed that the Jews are part of a living covenant and that antisemitism — including false charges of deicide — are heresy.
—Joshua Stanton, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
After violating financial covenants for more than $700 million in revenue bonds, Palomar was forced to sign a forbearance agreement with lenders, committing to hire outside consultants and create a turnaround plan.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenant
Noun
-
But even now, decades later, the U.S. has fewer missile interceptors deployed (44) than the treaty permitted (100).—
Matthew Bunn,
The Conversation,
6 June 2025
-
The United States is one of the 184 countries, plus the European Union, that have signed the treaty.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Hoji added that people should get proper legal advice before signing contracts that bind them to some form of confidentiality.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
12 June 2025
-
Based on how consistently well he's performed over the years, Washington should have no problem signing him to a new contract.—
Kevin McCormick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
During his first term, President Donald Trump pulled out of a Barack Obama-era agreement with Iran formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or simply as the Iran nuclear deal.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
-
President Donald Trump said in response to the latest exchange that the United States had not helped Israel carry out the attacks and urged Iran to come back to the negotiating table to sign a nuclear agreement that would avoid further destruction.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2025
Verb
-
Medicine and equipment was stolen amid the fighting, so nurses have learned to bargain for it at nearby pharmacies.—
Sophie Neiman,
Christian Science Monitor,
5 May 2025
-
The two unions have joined together to bargain, with negotiations continuing over the past week on issues like holidays, alternative work weeks, time off, health insurance and retirement plans.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2025
Verb
-
The majority of investors who put their money into such schemes in the past lost everything or were left with casks not worth nearly the value that they were promised.—
Felipe Schrieberg,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Electric boats have been moving along nicely in the last five years, but this new 45-footer from Sialia promises to be a watershed design, with its carbon-fiber hull, 12-passenger capacity, generous seating and galley in the cockpit, and choice of two- or three-staterooms with head and shower.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
That spring, Disney and Comcast negotiated a pact that outlined the governance of the service while it was jointly owned by the two companies and also provided a blueprint to dissolve their partnership.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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The Director informs her that the scar is the mark of a rival group of killers with which the Ruska Roma maintains a permanent mutual pact of nonaggression, and orders Eve to stand down.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Rings of Power, for instance, was not officially renewed for months and months when season 3 was supposedly going to be a guarantee initially.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
-
There's no guarantee the duo will work out, especially since Pickens doesn't jump CeeDee Lamb for the top spot on the depth chart, but the odds of the two parties helping each other are high, hence why the duo ranked second on the list, in front of the Washington Commanders' Deebo-Daniels duo.—
Justin Grasso,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
But as the decades rolled on, the conventions of these temples to excess calcified.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
14 June 2025
-
Courtesy of Apple This year at WWDC 2025, Apple introduced a rather drastic change to its naming conventions.—
Adrienne So,
Wired News,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenant. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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