trade-off

as in exchange
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another a trade-off in which a company got a celebrity spokesperson and a fading star got some much-needed cash

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 trade-off Without synthetics to rely on for stretch and grip, Cottonique uses drawstrings, which could be considered fiddly and bulky, or too much of a trade-off, particularly for undergarments. Sophie Benson, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025 While starter credit cards still exist, beginner cards are becoming increasingly restrictive, and come with high trade-offs such as high interest rates and minimal rewards. Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025 Scarcity is everywhere; trade-offs are everywhere. Sarah McCammon, NPR, 27 Oct. 2025 No matter the continent, governments face trade-offs. Allison Schrager, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trade-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trade-off
exchange
Noun
  • The exchange that dominates the crypto market, Coinbase, generated almost 40 times more revenue than Gemini did in the third quarter.
    Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Today, thousands of Venezuelans – from corporate bankers to retirees – regularly purchase US dollars on Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange.
    Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trade-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trade-off. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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