as in exchange
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another
according to our barter agreement, I do all of the mechanical work on my neighbor's car, and he does all of my snow removal
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of barter
Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
In 2020, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources implemented the Terrestrial Plant Rule banning the sale, gifting, barter, exchange, distribution, transportation or introduction of 44 invasive species, like autumn olive, wintercreeper and Japanese stiltgrass.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 24 Nov. 2025
Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Wildlife at times was used to barter for drugs, too—for example, abalone was traded for methamphetamine and sturgeon exchanged for heroin.
—Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barter
Noun
Cuba’s complicated barter system with Venezuela—exchanging oil for thousands of Cuban doctors, teachers, sports trainers, technical advisers, and intelligence operatives—has endured.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
In 2020, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources implemented the Terrestrial Plant Rule banning the sale, gifting, barter, exchange, distribution, transportation or introduction of 44 invasive species, like autumn olive, wintercreeper and Japanese stiltgrass.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 24 Nov. 2025
Verb
The deal, which bartered Iraqi crude oil for Chinese companies undertaking local construction projects, stalled in 2022, raising questions about China’s future role in the country.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Wildlife at times was used to barter for drugs, too—for example, abalone was traded for methamphetamine and sturgeon exchanged for heroin.
—Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barter
Noun
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As one person briefed on the exchange recalled, Altman then denied having made the claim.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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The union offered to have workers return to work in less than a week in exchange for continued contract negotiations.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Indian benchmark indexes were trading lower.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
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Strome sneaked behind Anaheim's leaky defense and scored on a breakaway early in the second period, getting his fifth goal in 15 games since the Ducks traded him to Calgary last month.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While economic impact can be quantified and reported, community impact cannot be so easily transacted.—
Michelle Grabner,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Place 2 Be at downtown Hartford’s Constitution Plaza, in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square and in New Haven lost their sales and use tax permits on Monday, approvals required for businesses to transact business under state law.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At the time, Epstein was serving his 18-month sentence in the Palm Beach County stockade but was allowed to spend 12 hours a day, six days a week, in his office under a work-release program his attorneys had negotiated.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
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Spice levels are negotiated with shorthand, on a scale from one to five.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The union usually bargains in the same year as performers’ union SAG-AFTRA and directors’ union the Directors Guild of America.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Apr. 2026
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The deal appears to be a win for the WGA, which had bargained for additional contributions to its health fund and pension plan.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Apple deals this good are super rare, so don't miss out!—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
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This was a concern after the club dealt away Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil, and let Pete Alonso walk down to Baltimore over the winter.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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It’s all curated by owner Sylvie Chateigner, who has methodically merchandised the store by color.—
Clara Giampellegrini,
Vogue,
26 Mar. 2026
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The store’s inventory will come from local closets and be merchandised around upcoming events including Ultra (March 27-29), the Miami Open (through March 29), Formula 1 (May 1-3) and Swim Week (May 25-June 1).—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Another surgery swapped out her breast implants to erase her shoulder pain in 2022, Dishell said, but doctors warned her then that her other pain was unlikely to improve.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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While strawberry shortcakes are usually made with biscuits, this recipe swaps them for tender little cakes baked in muffin tins.—
Victoria Spencer,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barter. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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