confederation

noun

kən-ˌfe-də-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce confederation (audio)
Definition of confederationnext
1
as in confederacy
an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection the smaller nations were forced to form a confederation out of self-defense

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in association
the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) the big-budget movie was produced by the studio in confederation with another in order to lower the risk

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 confederation Factoring in that its football confederation has changed ties to play in Asia in between tournaments rather than with Oceania teams, Australia will be more battle-tested when the 2030 edition rolls around. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026 Greenland operates under Danish self rule, while Nunavut remains a territory within the Canadian confederation. — Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026 Defeats The 2026 World Cup marks the first time Oceania’s confederation has received an automatic berth into the tournament, effectively handing New Zealand a free pass into the tournament. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 Chosen from all six confederations and across 50 FIFA member associations, the 170-strong refereeing contingent – featuring six women – is the largest roster of officials in tournament history. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for confederation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confederation
  1. confederacy
  2. association
  3. federation
  4. partnership
  5. coalition
  6. collaboration
  7. union
  8. relationship
Noun
  • The headstone, a memorial to texans who served the confederacy, was erected in 1964, which is to say the state missed the hundred-year anniversary of the battle itself but did remember to put it up in the year that Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act.
    — Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
  • And the citizenship question, the birthright-citizenship question, is part of that effort to federalize power such that a confederacy, a secession or anything like it, could never happen again.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
Definition of confederacy
Noun
  • The average American consumes about 20 pounds — almost 4 gallons — of ice cream each year, the association also reported.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • However, if future disappointment is to be avoided, something will need to change not just at the national level but also within Asian soccer’s governing association.
    — Simon Chadwick, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of association
Noun
  • Scans confirmed a hamstring strain, and the Egyptian federation said the 34-year-old began a treatment program immediately afterwards.
    — Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • In a 2023 survey by World Athletics, a global sports federation, 75% of responding athletes said the impacts of climate change are negatively affecting their health and athletic performance.
    — Dorany Pineda, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026
Definition of federation
Noun
  • The orbital laboratory is operated through a global partnership of space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • The partnership highlights the growing potential of Poltrona Frau’s Custom Interiors unit and its leadership in developing furniture that integrates into high-profile cultural and architectural projects.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
Definition of partnership
Noun
  • The operation was a testament to the growing effectiveness of a multinational coalition of urban search-and-rescue squads.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • In addition to Loop Capital, the development coalition that comprises Oakland Acquisition Company includes sports agent Bill Duffy and real-estate developer Alan Dones.
    — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Definition of coalition
Noun
  • The actor was a replacement after Madonna backed out, leaving the proto-rave tune one of the era’s most unlikely collaborations.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • The company said closer collaboration with GM will also help align future product development, optimize memory at the system level, and prepare upcoming technologies for deployment in future vehicle platforms.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026
Definition of collaboration
Noun
  • They were filled with protesters — including outraged members of a teachers’ union and relatives of kidnapping victims — as well as fans skeptical of a team that, four years earlier, posted its worst World Cup performance since 1978.
    — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • The union says it’s already made concessions at the bargaining table but with little offered in return to improve current conditions and wages.
    — Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of union
Noun
  • This typically happens because navigating the conflict proves that the relationship is resilient and can withstand the realities of the human experience.
    — Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 2 July 2026
  • That unpredictability, coupled with Johnson’s razor-thin voting margin, is testing the seemingly cozy relationship between the speaker and the president ahead of the midterms.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of relationship

Browse Nearby Words

confederating
confederation
confederations
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Cite this Entry

“Confederation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confederation. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on confederation

Nglish: Translation of confederation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about confederation

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