relations

noun

plural of relation
1
as in interaction
doings between individuals or groups relations between the rival newspapers remained friendly despite their competition for the same stories

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sex
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 relations Postwar intellectuals used psychoanalytic ideas in a variety of ways, including to discuss race relations and homosexuality. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 4 Aug. 2026 Rather, the pivotal transactions, graphed like the peaks and valleys of a volatile stock index, are the relations between men and women. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 In March 2023, for instance, Honduras broke off formal relations with Taiwan and established ties with Beijing. — Natalia Cote-Muñoz, Foreign Affairs, 3 Aug. 2026 From nomadic migrations to geek culture, many of the works seek to record and archive changing relations to place and community, not only in Doha but across the Gulf region. — Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Portland’s Jewish federation has received more than 40 complaints about the marquee, according to its chief community relations officer. — Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026 Some observers interpreted the move as an attempt to repair relations with Rabat following the Ghali controversy. — Miguel MacIas, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026 The YouTube video the Fever posted concluded with Boston’s answer and completely cut off the exchange between the reporter and the public relations staffer. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026 The move underscores the increasingly important role AI chips play in diplomatic relations and international politics. — Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relations
  1. interaction
  2. intercourse
  3. mating
Noun
  • If several hours of television or scrolling through social media are taking the place of exercise, in-person social interactions, reading or other mentally stimulating activities, that’s not ideal for brain health.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The third iteration, released in 2024, expanded its prediction abilities to interactions among proteins and other molecules, including DNA, RNA and potential drugs.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of interaction
Noun
  • After intercourse, the teenager had snapped photos of her naked body on a futon as evidence.
    — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 16 July 2026
  • The two counts of rape Høiby was convicted of did not involve intercourse.
    — Gwladys Fouche, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Definition of intercourse
Noun
  • First, there was Green Porno, her series of shorts that launched in 2008 on the Sundance Channel and explored some of the more bizarre mating behaviors in nature.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The team recently investigated the mating habits of another species, Leiobunum limbatum, which showed quite a different routine.
    — Christa Lesté-Lasserre, Scientific American, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of mating

Phrases Containing relations

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Cite this Entry

“Relations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relations. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of relations for Spanish Speakers

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