1
as in communes
to form a close personal relationship
she and I relate so well it's almost like we're siblings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in describes
to give an oral or written account of in some detail
we asked our uncle to relate the story of his visit to communist Russia many years ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pertains
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 associates
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of relates
In David Sington’s 2015 documentary of the same title, Yarris himself relates his tale, keeping those of us unfamiliar with the outcome of his epic struggle to clear his name in taut suspense until the very end.
—
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Considered narrowly, statesmanship relates primarily to politics and government.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Antinous is the principal mortal antagonist in Homer’s Odyssey, which relates Odysseus’s difficulties while getting home and how Penelope and her son, Telemachus, struggled to maintain their authority on Ithaca.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Mar. 2026
There’s a lovely little formula called the small-angle approximation that relates the two.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2026
But the story Sorkin relates is really all about the insiders, their privileged lives, their thoughts and actions.
—The Know, Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, the omniscient, just-the-facts-ma’am narration relates the days and times and events with an efficiency that speaks to us of the unstoppable nature of fate.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
The Fund has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates.
—Muyao Shen, Bloomberg, 30 Dec. 2025
Nest New York delivers on the sort of scent profile that relates holiday cheer with pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, cloves, and cinnamon with a hint of vanilla and amber, and at 25% off.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Considered narrowly, statesmanship relates primarily to politics and government.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Antinous is the principal mortal antagonist in Homer’s Odyssey, which relates Odysseus’s difficulties while getting home and how Penelope and her son, Telemachus, struggled to maintain their authority on Ithaca.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Mar. 2026
There’s a lovely little formula called the small-angle approximation that relates the two.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2026
But the story Sorkin relates is really all about the insiders, their privileged lives, their thoughts and actions.
—The Know, Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, the omniscient, just-the-facts-ma’am narration relates the days and times and events with an efficiency that speaks to us of the unstoppable nature of fate.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
The Fund has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates.
—Muyao Shen, Bloomberg, 30 Dec. 2025
Nest New York delivers on the sort of scent profile that relates holiday cheer with pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, cloves, and cinnamon with a hint of vanilla and amber, and at 25% off.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relates
Verb
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And that describes this Panthers offense to a tee.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
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The geological formation has been studied for decades, and that long record of scientific interest shapes how the company describes its role.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Trinity development pertains to two parcels of land located between the BSG facility and New Rutherford Avenue, and on New Rutherford Avenue, which are owned by the Boston Planning Department, the lawsuit states.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
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That also pertains to our commitment to become a Spanish-English bilingual museum.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Greene’s heart-to-heart media tour has been jarring liberals and anyone else who associates her with conspiratorial beliefs and outrageous comments.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
21 Nov. 2025
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Everyone associates that with us.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Comedy is the throughline that bonds it all together.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
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Although her sons might not be interested in acting yet, there's another way Banks bonds with her kids.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If a guy whose brother is engaged to Taylor Swift can pick a barbecue spot blind and land on a Charlotte favorite, that tells you something.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
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Parker tells me, grinning in his studio just outside of Los Angeles, in Altadena, in early April.—
Grayson Haver Currin,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The automatic discount also applies to all purchases made on the Free People app—no minimum purchase required.—
Hannah Chubb,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Apr. 2026
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Even once the standard is set, the 2027 deadline applies to creating the rule, not putting the technology in cars right away.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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By integrating deep learning across species with ancestral reconstruction, the model identifies the regulatory mechanisms and selection pressures that shape biological outcomes over time.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit, identifies at-risk landscapes to prevent them from falling into the hands of developers and facilitates their transfer from private ownership to public land agencies.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The British had imprisoned Jindan, and Duleep was forced to give away the diamond and claims to sovereignty, Smithsonian Magazine recounts.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
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Baptiste recounts his experience with very vivid memories of what happened.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relates. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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