1
as in treaties
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 contracts
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 agreements
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 bargains
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 promises
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 covenants
Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 14 Jan. 2026
The onerous covenants include, among others, restricting WBD’s ability to modify, renew or terminate affiliation agreements.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
That means the length of developer control depends almost entirely on each neighborhood’s covenants and governing documents and, in some cases, whether the developer still holds unsold lots.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
Even if one's city doesn't have an ordinance concerning holiday lights, anyone who is part of homeowners association will likely have some guidelines on what is and isn't allowed in their covenants, conditions and restrictions.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 28 Nov. 2025
Deals often include covenants tied to attendance, sponsorship renewals or season-ticket deposits.
—Joseph Glatt, Sportico.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Borrowers are willing to pay a lot more in interest than the traditional lengthy, expensive syndication process that requires ratings from S&P and Fitch, tough covenants, and sometimes long.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
The wide-ranging pact also includes amendment of a forbearance agreement with Palomar’s lenders, a requirement that lenders created after the public health care district breached financial covenants on more than $700 million in revenue bond debt.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
According to a news release from Harrell’s office, there have been at least two covenants restricting a property’s future use as a grocery store on properties within Seattle.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
The covenants contained language in property deeds that prevented the sale of land or homes to Black people and people of other ethnicities to keep certain areas exclusively White.
—Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 14 Jan. 2026
The onerous covenants include, among others, restricting WBD’s ability to modify, renew or terminate affiliation agreements.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
That means the length of developer control depends almost entirely on each neighborhood’s covenants and governing documents and, in some cases, whether the developer still holds unsold lots.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
Even if one's city doesn't have an ordinance concerning holiday lights, anyone who is part of homeowners association will likely have some guidelines on what is and isn't allowed in their covenants, conditions and restrictions.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 28 Nov. 2025
Deals often include covenants tied to attendance, sponsorship renewals or season-ticket deposits.
—Joseph Glatt, Sportico.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Borrowers are willing to pay a lot more in interest than the traditional lengthy, expensive syndication process that requires ratings from S&P and Fitch, tough covenants, and sometimes long.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
The wide-ranging pact also includes amendment of a forbearance agreement with Palomar’s lenders, a requirement that lenders created after the public health care district breached financial covenants on more than $700 million in revenue bond debt.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
According to a news release from Harrell’s office, there have been at least two covenants restricting a property’s future use as a grocery store on properties within Seattle.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covenants
Noun
-
Some of the loudest critics of the idea come from Indigenous communities, whose treaties with the Canadian state are older than the province of Alberta.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Federal courts in recent years have affirmed these treaties, and said the tribal rights listed in them are still valid.—
Frank Vaisvilas,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The court found the contracts were unconstitutional.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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Other unions also pushing for improved contracts The 30,000 members of Local 99 also are working under terms of an expired contract, since June 30, 2024.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Tuesday’s announcement covers only the first two seasons of the new six-year deal as the CFP finalizes agreements with ESPN and its bowl partners, but the Rose Bowl is expected to remain a New Year’s Day quarterfinal for the duration of the contracts.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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In two days, New START, the last significant survivor of the age of nuclear-arms-control agreements that began in the 1960s, will come to an end.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Those restraints are lawful because the NFL collectively bargains them with the NFL players association.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 Dec. 2025
-
One of the best Cyber Monday bargains out there is this incredible OLED portable from Asus, which is crammed with high-end silicon for peak performance on all of today's top titles.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The experience promises to be bracingly new, chaotic, and exciting, but there was inevitably a melancholy tinge to this year’s edition, which became, in effect—and affect—an eleven-day farewell.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Tomorrow’s meeting with Fulham promises a different sort of test.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Ricardo Sheffield, a prominent Morena senator who was previously a member of the center-right National Action Party, has called for a review of oil pacts with Cuba.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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During the same period, New Delhi finalized pacts with Britain, New Zealand and Oman.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Either could be a candidate for a short extension or perhaps a deal where some guarantees are installed in exchange for cap flexibility.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
31 Jan. 2026
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Energy flows are no longer determined solely by price and proximity but by alliance structures and security guarantees.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Johnson is also part of the Geek Partnership Society, an organization that hosts sci-fi fantasy conventions.—
Matthew Stolle,
Twin Cities,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Here's a roundup of all sorts of events coming up, including winter fests; an array of performances; conventions, from cars to comics; museums and galleries; food and drink festivities; author visits; home and garden happenings; ways to get out into nature; and more.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Covenants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covenants. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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