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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

In 1999, the then-69-year-old great-grandmother helped obtain extra government benefits for workers who lost their jobs in a citrus freeze and stared across the contract bargaining table at lawyers for the giant Gallo wine company. — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026 After four stalemated bargaining meetings on February 11, 2023, the Buena Park union went on strike, slipping out one by one before the second show of the day. — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026 The remaining 60% of that increase is a result of higher markups, a greater industry concentration, the rise of automation and a decline in labor’s bargaining power, Duggirala wrote in a research note last month. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026 This can potentially provide a little more bargaining power for buyers who do decide to stay in the game. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 26 Oct. 2026 The Dallas cheerleaders’ bargaining unit has already been recognized by the Dallas Cowboys, according to a brief joint press release issued Friday by the team and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association. — Rob Wile, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026 The Endeavor nurses needed at least 30% of potential bargaining unit members to sign union authorization cards to file the election petition with the National Labor Relations Board. — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 During Thursday's protest, hundreds of resident physicians and fellows demanded negotiators return to the bargaining table. — Payton May, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 After nearly a year of bargaining, the major sticking points between the university and its professors are salaries, workload and academic freedom protections, according to union representatives. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Verb

Equity and Casa Bonita management have been bargaining since April 2025, with the union meeting with management at least once a month, Hoeschen said. — Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2026 Yet one or more of the P5 could inject new names at the last minute, once again leaving the decision to behind-the-scenes bargaining among a few powerful states. — Ian Johnstone, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bargaining

Noun

When negotiations began, many firefighters viewed the contract as an opportunity to address departures and improve retention.

— Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
The independent dispute resolution system, or IDR, created under the No Surprises Act, was an arbitration process intended to serve as a last-ditch safeguard when negotiations between insurers and providers failed.

— Christian Swann, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of negotiation

Verb

Of those who expressed an opinion, majorities of respondents under 40 and those born outside Cuba favor negotiating with Cuba’s leadership.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
Different industries and different backgrounds provide a pool of varied perspectives for bouncing ideas around about anything from negotiating salaries to making difficult management decisions.

— Christina Perrier, InStyle, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of negotiating

Verb

Before agreeing to anything, though, make sure the debt is legitimate and confirm who has the authority to collect it.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
After agreeing to a buyout with the Mavericks in August before joining the Heat this past offseason, Thompson played against the Mavericks for the first time on Monday since his departure.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of agreeing

Verb

One of our all-time favorite experiences was arranging a private, behind-the-scenes tour of Blenheim Palace, led by none other than the Duke of Marlborough himself.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Miranda Orozco, 50, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting to arranging travel and accommodations for two people who died and another who was seriously injured.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of arranging

Noun

Add in the inconsistency of Green Bay’s rookie kicker, Trey Smack, and the points look like an absolute bargain.

— Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026
Her organizing was instrumental in California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, which granted farmworkers the legal right to form unions, hold secret-ballot elections, and bargain collectively with their employers.

— Cindy Carcamo, Christian Science Monitor, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of bargain

Verb

Just when Kansas City appeared to be building momentum toward a Sunday night comeback, kicker Harrison Butker missed his second attempt of the night, dealing another blow to the Chiefs’ hopes.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
Others were dealing divorce, custody issues or other difficult life events.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of dealing

Noun

The result could amount to a form of AI-enabled haggling, in which consumers face perpetually shifting prices based on factors largely invisible to them.

— Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of haggling

Noun

In Singapore, where retail payments are already highly efficient, stablecoins may have fewer applications in consumer transactions, while corporate payments could offer greater opportunities, Driver said.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
The median transaction took approximately 13 months from announcement to launch.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026