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
Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 24 Nov. 2025
The team believes that indigenous people of the pre-Inca Chincha Kingdom from Peru’s coast and highland may have come to exchange goods and barter using their own goods, rather than currency.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 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
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
The team believes that indigenous people of the pre-Inca Chincha Kingdom from Peru’s coast and highland may have come to exchange goods and barter using their own goods, rather than currency.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 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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Over billions of years, continuous chemical exchanges between this molten interior and the atmosphere have shaped the unique world observed today.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
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Their presence reflects the ongoing exchange between the Chinese and Korean fashion industries, particularly among younger consumers who closely follow both markets.—
Yiling Pan,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After trading a couple baskets, Holbrook went up 14-5 in big part to eight of the 14 first-half points for senior captain Odens Massillon (24 points, 14 rebound).—
Brian Roach,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
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As Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hepburn is at her theatrical best, trading barbs with estranged husband King Henry II (Peter O’Toole) and their sons over a chaotic Christmas gathering.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Under California law, companies that are suspended by state tax officials are legally barred from transacting any business.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
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Due to changes to federal tax reporting rules that Congress approved in 2021, payment platforms, including Venmo, CashApp, PayPal and any other platforms used for transacting funds, had to issue 1099-K forms to any Americans who received more than US$600 in payments.—
Pamala Wiepking,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The residents and owners are negotiating a settlement agreement where residents receive compensation for moving off the property by a certain date, the attorneys said.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
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The only problem is, negotiating and understanding the subsequent paradoxes — which writer/director Shane Carruth made little effort to simplify — requires a PhD in high-level physics.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That’s because the studios are moving on to start bargaining with the Writers Guild on Monday, the guild that is usually the thorniest negotiation, before then moving on to the Directors Guild on May 11.—
Rebecca Keegan,
NBC news,
16 Mar. 2026
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The two sides had been bargaining since September and went through the state impasse and fact-finding process before reaching the tentative deal.—
Aidin Vaziri,
San Francisco Chronicle,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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No serious injuries were reported, but the extent of the fire shook residents of the north, who have repeatedly been told by their leaders that Hezbollah was dealt a devastating blow in 2024 during its last war with Israel.—
Natalie Melzer,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
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Just three days later, his time in Green Bay would officially come to and end, as the Packers dealt him to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The company is trying to deploy AI tools on everything from inventory planning to merchandising to product development.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Mar. 2026
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The rights to his image are managed by CMG Worldwide, which specializes in celebrities merchandising.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If this is the case, swap it out for a shorter cord that is the correct length for the job at hand.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
13 Mar. 2026
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Their understated design translates seamlessly from day to night—pair them with sneakers and a tee for daytime exploring, then swap in a blazer and flats for dinner.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barter. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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