as in to negotiate
to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase
I horse-traded with the painter: I did his tax returns, and he did my kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in negotiation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of horse-trade
Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 4 Oct. 2023
Congress, by contrast, can hold wide-ranging hearings, issue subpoenas, survey and even commission empirical research, weigh fiscal trade-offs, consider constituent popularity, balance different values and interests, horse trade, negotiate, and forge compromises.
—Ian MacDougall, Harper’s Magazine , 28 Sep. 2022
Justices horse trade and revise for months on major cases, though they’re not known for flipping sides.
—Dallas News, 3 May 2022
The blandishments McCarthy might have offered to horse trade his way to the speakership — fancy titles, perks, a fundraising appearance — meant little to those Republican holdouts who would like nothing more than to burn Washington to the ground.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2023
Krikorian, from the restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies, argued DACA recipients could have gotten green cards by now, if Democrats had been willing to horse trade for tougher enforcement.
—Dallas News, 18 July 2022
In the early 1960s, the bistate agency took over what was then the struggling Hudson and Manhattan Railroad as part of a horse trade between New Jersey and New York that committed the Port to build the first World Trade Center.
—Paul Berger, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2018
And Paul George finally escaped Indiana, albeit to a dark-horse trade partner in the Oklahoma City Thunder.
—Peter Dawson and [email protected], star-telegram, 13 Dec. 2017
Noun
The rising profile of McHenry and Emmer is likely bullish for crypto bills, as both work to convince Democrats on their committee—and their counterparts over in the Senate—to horse trade over stablecoin and market structure legislation.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 4 Oct. 2023
Congress, by contrast, can hold wide-ranging hearings, issue subpoenas, survey and even commission empirical research, weigh fiscal trade-offs, consider constituent popularity, balance different values and interests, horse trade, negotiate, and forge compromises.
—Ian MacDougall, Harper’s Magazine , 28 Sep. 2022
Justices horse trade and revise for months on major cases, though they’re not known for flipping sides.
—Dallas News, 3 May 2022
The blandishments McCarthy might have offered to horse trade his way to the speakership — fancy titles, perks, a fundraising appearance — meant little to those Republican holdouts who would like nothing more than to burn Washington to the ground.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2023
Krikorian, from the restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies, argued DACA recipients could have gotten green cards by now, if Democrats had been willing to horse trade for tougher enforcement.
—Dallas News, 18 July 2022
In the early 1960s, the bistate agency took over what was then the struggling Hudson and Manhattan Railroad as part of a horse trade between New Jersey and New York that committed the Port to build the first World Trade Center.
—Paul Berger, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2018
And Paul George finally escaped Indiana, albeit to a dark-horse trade partner in the Oklahoma City Thunder.
—Peter Dawson and [email protected], star-telegram, 13 Dec. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horse-trade
Verb
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For starters, unlike Trump’s single-minded focus on China during his first-term trade war, Trump 2.0 is sparring with every country on the planet with the ostensible goal of negotiating freer and fairer trade deals, from our closest democratic allies to the Chinese Communist Party.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 2025
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Here’s the thing, no employee should be left to negotiate basic dignity on their own.—
Aparna Rae,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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These tactics are designed to lead the victim straight onto a negotiation footing where the attacker has the upper hand.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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Car prices are not unilaterally set by automakers, but through negotiations between car dealers and car buyers.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, Trump's immigration agenda was dealt another recent blow after the Supreme Court, in a 7-2 ruling, temporarily blocked the president from invoking the Alien Enemies Act to detain or deport Venezuelan nationals.—
Sonam Sheth
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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Prospective international students to the U.S. were dealt another blow when U.S. embassies were ordered not to schedule any new student visa interviews while the Trump Administration prepares to expand its vetting of applicants’ social media profiles.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Eventually, a compromise was struck and the England international will now move with immediate effect.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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Best Sleeper Sofa Pottery Barn Shasta Reversible Chaise Sleeper Sectional Specs Hosting guests in a small space requires some compromise, but any consummate host knows that good hospitality doesn’t come in the form of a saggy air mattress.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Medicine and equipment was stolen amid the fighting, so nurses have learned to bargain for it at nearby pharmacies.—
Sophie Neiman,
Christian Science Monitor,
5 May 2025
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The two unions have joined together to bargain, with negotiations continuing over the past week on issues like holidays, alternative work weeks, time off, health insurance and retirement plans.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2025
Noun
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According to Reuters, Rite Aid's previous Chapter 11 filing in October 2023 allowed the company to eliminate $2 billion in debt, close hundreds of stores and reach settlements with both lenders and plaintiffs in various lawsuits.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 May 2025
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Under the terms of the settlement Trinity agreed to pay $25,000 in April and $15,000 in May.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Brands need to develop a deeper understanding of the media consumption habits and cultural nuances of diverse audiences to connect authentically and build lasting relationships.—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Which is to say, of course teen movies reflect the times in which they are made and society’s contemporaneous understanding of what Kids Today are like (wholesome or delinquent, risk-taking or anxious, horny or … horny).—
Lisa Schwarzbaum,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Noun
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Major universities and law firms offered significant concessions to the administration this year to try to carve out breathing room.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
-
What are the unknown risks, deal-breakers or concessions?—
Andrew Allen,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horse-trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse-trade. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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