BARGAINING Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

bargaining 1 of 2

noun

as in negotiation

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bargaining

2 of 2

verb

present participle of bargain

as in negotiating

to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase they bargained with the car salesman for half an hour before settling on a price

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in agreeing

to come to an arrangement as to a course of action I really hadn't bargained on buying a whole case of Girl Scout cookies, just a couple of boxes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in arranging

to bring about through discussion and compromise bargained the price of the painting down to a figure that the artist could still live with

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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 bargaining

Noun

However, the threat of taking California to the Supreme Court may be enough to bring the state’s AG Rob Bonta back to the bargaining table. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 And neither side is inclined to move much this early in bargaining. — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The announcement, which came during a contract bargaining session in July, led to frustrations within the company’s editorial union, which says the Times is violating its own editorial standards around AI use. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Aug. 2026 During the offseason, the league and the WNBA Players Association reached a landmark collective-bargaining agreement resulting in a 400 percent increase, on average, in player salaries. — Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026 Mamdani has said under New York labor rules known as the Taylor Law, pay must be negotiated at the bargaining table, not through Council legislation. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026 The bargaining history shows collective action is what moves us forward. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Farmer producer organizations—collectives of small and marginal farmers—also have the potential to bolster farmers’ bargaining power, access alternative markets, and aid agricultural earnings. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026 The city held its first bargaining session with the fire department on the same day the police agreement was announced. — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026

Verb

The California Gig Workers Union hopes to begin bargaining by the end of the year, CalMatters reported. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026 Alongside promotions and deadlines, many young women are also privately bargaining with time and their bodies. — Anna Russell, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026 This comes several days after Stanford football players created a campus chapter of the College Football Players Association, with the goal of collectively bargaining with the ACC. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 2 Aug. 2026 No deployment date has been set for Hyundai’s Korean plants at all, so the union is bargaining pre-emptively, trying to lock in protections before the humanoid robots show up rather than after. — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 The restaurant’s cliff divers, magicians, puppeteers and roving performers have been bargaining with management for more than a year, after officially voting to unionize in November 2024. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 9 July 2026 The ruling also reflected Sotomayor’s reasoning that owners and players were still bargaining in good faith and that salary policies were mandatory subjects of bargaining. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026 If an employer chooses to grant recognition, no election takes place, and the parties begin bargaining a contract that sets standards for wages, working conditions and benefits. — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 The curbing of telework comes as a blow to SEIU Local 1000, the only state worker union bargaining a new contract with the Newsom administration this year. — William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bargaining

Noun

As for negotiations, Zelensky suggested that the window of opportunity for ending the war stretched through the end of next summer, when the US presidential election campaign would begin.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Barrack went further on the defensive on Sunday, responding to criticism of his assessment of ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon over Israeli withdrawal and the disarmament of the militant group.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of negotiation

Verb

Under it, the USAF can issue individual work orders as engines need attention, without negotiating a completely new contract each time.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
The author advises negotiating exit terms fiercely, choosing fewer, aligned investors, and building sellable systems from day one, whether or not outside capital is involved.

— Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of negotiating

Verb

The Philadelphia 76ers had plans last year to build a Center City arena before agreeing to a new arena with the Philadelphia Flyers across the street from their current site in the stadium complex.

— Zach Berman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
The board had scheduled a vote on Alston’s fate last week, but a judge intervened, agreeing that Alston was legally entitled to mediation.

— Rafael Olmeda, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of agreeing

Verb

Trump has privately discussed arranging an in-person meeting with Kim during his next trip to Asia, likely in November, the Journal said, when he is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China.

— Anniek Bao,Lisa Kim, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
The musician in charge curates the guest experience, creating the soundtrack, collaborating on food and beverage menus, and arranging one-of-a-kind onsite performances that make a weekend feel like a complete all-access adventure.

— Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of arranging

Noun

Higgins was also there in person to witness the bargain go down and the specific number — 10 — of dates reached.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
With companies in the SOX growing forward earnings per share at an annual rate of about 70%, Arya thinks the SOX multiple looks like a bargain.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of bargain

Verb

With the help of his best friend Cliff, Robbie decides to take matters into his own hands by robbing the Dark Hearts’ drug-dealing operation in order to provide a better life for his children and to avenge his brother’s death.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026
Over the winter, Arizona considered dealing Marte to another club.

— Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of dealing

Noun

After some spirited haggling at a public hearing, Star City Council members on July 7 approved a development plan for a commercial center on the northeast corner of Highway 44 between North Moyle Avenue and Plummer Road.

— Noah Daly July 15, Idaho Statesman, 15 July 2026
No negotiating, no haggling, no surprises.

— Rancho Santa Fe Review, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026

Definition of haggling

Noun

Mirramezani said roughly a sixth of Iran’s non-oil exports also go to the UAE, while Dubai has long been an important hub for Iranian financial transactions.

— Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Once the immediate transactions are done, this is really the task that will define much of the new GM’s first year.

— Max Bultman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026