sweetheart deal
noun
plural sweetheart deals
chiefly US
: an unusually advantageous arrangement or agreement
If they wanted to leave, they could have done so before the stadium expansion and received a sweetheart deal from someplace else.—
Nick Canepa
Nick Canepa
especially
: one that is obtained through personal or business connections or influence
Those shows were produced by the same company that broadcast them, prompting their creators to fret about sweetheart deals … —Brian Lowry
Brian Lowry The company also used its clout to cut through the logjam of carrier requirements that had stifled innovation in the phone industry for years, essentially forcing AT&T into a sweetheart deal that put Apple in the driver's seat. —Brian X. Chen
Brian X. Chen Examples of sweetheart deal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Opposing fans have objected to a sweetheart deal that has allowed the Dodgers to pocket television revenue ordinarily shared with the league’s other 29 teams.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
That means holding corporations accountable, avoiding sweetheart deals, and making sure revenues are maximized for schools and classrooms.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
As part of a sweetheart deal his lawyers negotiated with federal prosecutors in South Florida, Epstein was able to walk free despite the fact that he was accused of raping and molested nearly three dozen girls.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
There are even sweetheart deals on lodging during this special time.
—Mindy Sink, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sweetheart deal
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Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
That means holding corporations accountable, avoiding sweetheart deals, and making sure revenues are maximized for schools and classrooms.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
As part of a sweetheart deal his lawyers negotiated with federal prosecutors in South Florida, Epstein was able to walk free despite the fact that he was accused of raping and molested nearly three dozen girls.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
There are even sweetheart deals on lodging during this special time.
—Mindy Sink, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sweetheart deal
Cite this Entry
“Sweetheart deal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweetheart%20deal. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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