Synonyms of bargaining

bargaining 1 of 2

noun

as in negotiation

Related Words

• negotiation
• bargain
• haggling
• transaction
• dealing
• dickering
• deal
• horse trading
• replacement
• substitution
• reciprocation
• logrolling
• horse trade
• exchange
• recompense
• barter
• swap
• truck
• commutation
• back-and-forth
• trade
• trade-off
• quid pro quo
• requital
• dicker

bargaining

2 of 2

verb

present participle of bargain

1

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

• negotiating
• dealing
• haggling
• dickering
• bickering
• arguing
• clashing
• horse-trading
• wheeling and dealing
• chaffering
• fighting
• paltering
• quarreling
• wrangling
• squabbling
• cutting a deal
• buying
• bartering
• exchanging
• trading
• quibbling
• hassling
• purchasing
• shopping (around)
• peddling
• hawking
• comparison shopping

2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• agreeing
• covenanting
• contracting
• arranging
• coming to terms
• striking a bargain
• underwriting
• coming around
• coming round
• subscribing
• settling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• differing
• disagreeing
• dissenting
• arguing
• revoking
• canceling
• contesting
• objecting
• disputing
• reneging

3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• negotiating
• arranging
• concluding
• discussing
• concerting
• haggling
• dealing
• dickering
• settling (on or upon)
• reasoning
• horse-trading
• debating
• chaffering
• renegotiating
• agreeing
• talking
• arguing
• paltering
• contracting
• covenanting
• talking over
• hammering out
• hashing (over)
• working out

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bargaining

Noun

Unlike Germany’s reformers, the Republicans in the House do not propose to improve American older workers’ health, job quality or bargaining power. — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

In 2018, the legislature passed a law requiring them for unions who counted less than 50% of the bargaining unit as dues-paying members. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026

Those methods involve the union ending its exclusive bargaining role on behalf of players and players then suing the league on antitrust grounds. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026

The performers include cliff divers, puppeteers and magicians who have been in negotiations with management for more than a year, reportedly attending 14 bargaining sessions with management. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026

Parker and Stone have frequented the restaurant recently but have not attended one of the 14 bargaining sessions with Actor’s Equity, according to Shields. — Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Additionally, farmers don't have much bargaining power to negotiate with wholesalers for higher crop prices when their operating costs rise, according to Rob Vos, a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute. — Joe Hernandez, NPR, 3 July 2026

In an earlier round of bargaining, MLB proposed a radical overhaul of the draft that would include making high schoolers ineligible for the domestic draft. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Contentious bargaining history State scientists and the Newsom administration have a particularly contentious bargaining history. — William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026

Verb

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

While bargaining with fantasy and forgiveness, the song lyrics shed light on the cost of having to ask, hope or wait for something that will never come. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026

Hollywood’s actors and writers unions, after winning AI protections in bargaining with studios, remain concerned about the potential misuse of the tech. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 14 May 2026

The nurses have been bargaining with the hospital for more than a year, according to the union, and have faced multiple unfair labor practices against union supporters. — Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 12 May 2026

The two parties have been in a standoff for several weeks now, essentially since mid-March when the writers began bargaining with the major studios on a new film and TV contract. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026