as in negotiation
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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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bargaining
Yue Stella Yu
feb. 22, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
All of this is unfolding, meanwhile, as the Screen Actors Guild is winding up its second week of bargaining with the studios, so far with its media blackout holding firm, usually a sign that those talks are going well.
—Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
But the coverage change was not proposed during bargaining sessions, representatives of the district’s two largest unions, the Broward Teachers Union and the Federation of Public Employees, told the Sun Sentinel.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
In bargaining both sides remain stuck on just cause provisions, AI and wages, according to union organizers.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026
Granville Ganter, an associate professor of English and a member of the AAUP bargaining team, said, characterizing the university’s response.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2026
The members of the council understand that the disarray wrought by Clark’s departure and the lingering concerns about Meyer could be exploited by the owners during bargaining sessions.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Meyer, an at-times combative career litigator, was brought in from the NHL Players Association in 2018 to add muscle to a bargaining team that was viewed as having surrendered ground in the negotiations for the 2017-2021 CBA, which was almost immediately panned as a loss for the players.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital are heading back to the picket line as representatives take a seat at the bargaining table in an effort to reach a new contract.
—Christina Fan, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
City News Service, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
The union said nurses are committed to bargaining daily to settle the dispute.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
With continued support of mediators, nurses plan on bargaining daily to settle fair contracts that protect patient and nurse safety.
—Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
The announcement comes after resort ownership and its patrollers union, which have been bargaining since June, reached an impasse in negotiations.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
The nurses’ dispute comes as 100 non-RN healthcare professionals at the hospital also voted to join the union and are in the midst of bargaining their first contract.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
Allina and Doctors Council-SEIU have been bargaining a first contract since February of 2024.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
That’s true so long as the two sides are bargaining in good faith.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2025
What were the musicians bargaining for?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
The engineers union has a reputation for wins at the bargaining table, including gaining seniority perks that boosted pay for longtime employees.
—Yue Stella Yu
feb. 22, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
All of this is unfolding, meanwhile, as the Screen Actors Guild is winding up its second week of bargaining with the studios, so far with its media blackout holding firm, usually a sign that those talks are going well.
—Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
But the coverage change was not proposed during bargaining sessions, representatives of the district’s two largest unions, the Broward Teachers Union and the Federation of Public Employees, told the Sun Sentinel.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
In bargaining both sides remain stuck on just cause provisions, AI and wages, according to union organizers.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026
Granville Ganter, an associate professor of English and a member of the AAUP bargaining team, said, characterizing the university’s response.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2026
The members of the council understand that the disarray wrought by Clark’s departure and the lingering concerns about Meyer could be exploited by the owners during bargaining sessions.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Meyer, an at-times combative career litigator, was brought in from the NHL Players Association in 2018 to add muscle to a bargaining team that was viewed as having surrendered ground in the negotiations for the 2017-2021 CBA, which was almost immediately panned as a loss for the players.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital are heading back to the picket line as representatives take a seat at the bargaining table in an effort to reach a new contract.
—Christina Fan, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
The union had been bargaining with Kaiser since last May.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
The union said nurses are committed to bargaining daily to settle the dispute.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
With continued support of mediators, nurses plan on bargaining daily to settle fair contracts that protect patient and nurse safety.
—Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
The announcement comes after resort ownership and its patrollers union, which have been bargaining since June, reached an impasse in negotiations.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
The nurses’ dispute comes as 100 non-RN healthcare professionals at the hospital also voted to join the union and are in the midst of bargaining their first contract.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
Allina and Doctors Council-SEIU have been bargaining a first contract since February of 2024.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
That’s true so long as the two sides are bargaining in good faith.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2025
What were the musicians bargaining for?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bargaining
Noun
-
The Wall Street Journal reported that forces used Claude during the operation via Anthropic’s partnership with the defense contractor Palantir—and Axios reported that the episode escalated an already fraught negotiation over what, exactly, Claude could be used for.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The negotiations in Switzerland were the third round of direct talks organized by Washington, after meetings earlier this year in Abu Dhabi that officials described as constructive but which also made no major headway.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Critics chided the college for not negotiating specific benefits or concessions for the school in exchange for its land.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
That knowledge translates directly into negotiating power — and into avoiding the expensive surprises that catch unprepared buyers off guard.—
Allison Palmer
Updated February 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This whole proposal for collaboration might hold some water if there were two CEOs, both looking out for their responsibilities and agreeing to work together.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The city approved a development agreement for the project in 2018, with the city agreeing to pay $15 million for infrastructure, including streets and parks.—
Claire Osborn,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Of course, standard service like checking you in, unpacking your luggage, and arranging your room and amenities to your liking is taken care of effortlessly.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Since then, Elizabeth has been as important to Copeland’s professional life as his personal life, co-founding a children’s theater school with him, arranging his music, and supporting him as he was launched from obscurity.—
Matthew Blackwell,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The retailer is akin to a Big Lots having a baby with the Daiso bargain store.—
Samantha Gowen,
Oc Register,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The competition at this supercar level costs over $50,000 more, making a Dodge Durango Hellcat SRT a bargain in the ratified air of the ultra high performance class.—
Tony Leopardo,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Now is the time to make a splash move, and dealing for Crosby would qualify.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The Kings released a statement confirming that Fiala, 29, will miss the rest of the season, dealing a severe blow to the team’s push for a fifth straight playoff berth.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That’s where the haggling would begin.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
-
That language was ultimately stripped from the bill in end-of-session haggling.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While a few real estate agents’ names appear in the listing, they were involved in a previous sale and did not participate in this latest transaction.—
Sandra Barrera,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Tornado Cash, which allows users to anonymize crypto transactions.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bargaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bargaining. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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