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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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
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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
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
The passage referencing God’s covenant with Noah points to the rainbow as a sign of that promise.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2025
This represents a small but seismic shift, from scarcity to abundance, from contract to covenant, from debt to devotion.
—Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Growing input costs can reduce earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margins, leading to liquidity issues or covenant violations.
—Christian Oberbeck, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Noun
That’s because legislators pledged in legal covenants with bond holders not to alter the state’s caps dramatically before July 1, 2028.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
The passage referencing God’s covenant with Noah points to the rainbow as a sign of that promise.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2025
This represents a small but seismic shift, from scarcity to abundance, from contract to covenant, from debt to devotion.
—Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Growing input costs can reduce earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margins, leading to liquidity issues or covenant violations.
—Christian Oberbeck, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for covenant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenant
Noun
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The Court rejected arguments made by large countries, including the United States, Australia, and Germany, that the creation of a treaty that specifically addresses climate change overrides any other international law on the subject.—
Jon McGowan,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
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On this day in 1923: One of the final treaties of World War I, the Treaty of Lausanne, was signed at Palais de Rumine in Lausanne, Switzerland, by Greece, France, Turkey, Britain, Italy, Japan, Romania and the then-Kingdom of Serbia.—
DAILY BRIEFING,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
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The first phase, which had a contract authorized at last Thursday’s City Council meeting, focuses on reinforcing the roads leading to the plants to prevent flood damage.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
31 July 2025
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Ekholm’s current contract has a cap hit of $6.25 million.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
Noun
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Tong filed a separate lawsuit last year, accusing the utility of failing to uphold its agreement to spend $30 million on the remediation effort.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
2 Aug. 2025
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One day after approving a lease agreement for Paycor Stadium, Hamilton County commissioners voted to rescind that approval and approve a new version.—
Erin Glynn,
The Enquirer,
2 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Combined with inflation boosting home repair prices, the costs of homeownership are more than many people bargained for.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
17 July 2025
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And managing them came with more responsibilities than Niven bargained for.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
7 July 2025
Verb
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The South by Southwest Conference and Festival is often populated with splashy activations from companies promising groundbreaking tech in the near future.—
Beck Andrew Salgado,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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But the quality should extend into Days 2 and 3 with promising linebacker talent.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
Noun
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Now the Abraham Accords—the U.S.-brokered normalization pacts between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan—might expand to include the most powerful Sunni Arab state, Saudi Arabia.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
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Slater, a two-time Pro Bowler who’s tasked in protecting quarterback Justin Herbert’s blindside, is collecting $92 million in guarantee money on his four-year, $114 million pact.—
Jay Paris,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Noun
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With its guarantee of seclusion and privacy, the island has become a celebrity haven (so much so that Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson bought a home there).—
Monica Mendal,
Vogue,
15 July 2025
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While Lazard and Hall will likely both make the team, there’s no guarantee for Corley, who missed substantial time in the spring due to an undisclosed injury.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
14 July 2025
Noun
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Cincinnati's convention hotel developer Portman Holdings announced its acquisition of The Westin Cincinnati at 21 E. Fifth St. on July 31.—
Sydney Franklin,
The Enquirer,
1 Aug. 2025
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The guild said that convention resolutions passed included (but are not limited to): Advocacy for a federal film and television incentive (passed unanimously).—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenant. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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