deal 1 of 3

noun (1)

Definition of dealnext
as in ton
a considerable amount there is a great deal of waste in government

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deal

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
as in agreement
an arrangement about action to be taken we made a deal to cooperate on the next assignment

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in sale
the transfer of ownership of something from one person to another for a price we closed the deal for the house last week

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in contract
a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation if the other party backs out of the deal after it's signed, you can sue

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in situation
position with regard to conditions and circumstances we don't yet know what the deal is with the new manager

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in bargain
something bought or offered for sale at a desirable price that mail-order sweater isn't such a great deal after you factor in the cost of shipping and handling

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deal

3 of 3

verb

ˈdēl How to pronounce deal (audio)
1
as in to trade
to carry on the business of buying and selling goods or other property that store deals in used furniture

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to negotiate
to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase you're going to have to learn how to deal if you want to buy a car at a fair price

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deal are dispense, distribute, divide, and dole out. While all these words mean "to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group," deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece.

deal out equipment and supplies

When could dispense be used to replace deal?

In some situations, the words dispense and deal are roughly equivalent. However, dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need.

dispensed wisdom to the students

When is distribute a more appropriate choice than deal?

Although the words distribute and deal have much in common, distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts.

distributed food to the needy

When can divide be used instead of deal?

The words divide and deal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal.

three charitable groups divided the proceeds

When is it sensible to use dole out instead of deal?

The synonyms dole out and deal are sometimes interchangeable, but dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply.

doled out what little food there was

How does the verb deal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deal are dispense, distribute, divide, and dole out. While all these words mean "to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group," deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece.

deal out equipment and supplies

When could dispense be used to replace deal?

In some situations, the words dispense and deal are roughly equivalent. However, dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need.

dispensed wisdom to the students

When is distribute a more appropriate choice than deal?

Although the words distribute and deal have much in common, distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts.

distributed food to the needy

When can divide be used instead of deal?

The words divide and deal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal.

three charitable groups divided the proceeds

When is it sensible to use dole out instead of deal?

The synonyms dole out and deal are sometimes interchangeable, but dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply.

doled out what little food there was

How does the verb deal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deal are dispense, distribute, divide, and dole out. While all these words mean "to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group," deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece.

deal out equipment and supplies

When could dispense be used to replace deal?

In some situations, the words dispense and deal are roughly equivalent. However, dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need.

dispensed wisdom to the students

When is distribute a more appropriate choice than deal?

Although the words distribute and deal have much in common, distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts.

distributed food to the needy

When can divide be used instead of deal?

The words divide and deal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal.

three charitable groups divided the proceeds

When is it sensible to use dole out instead of deal?

The synonyms dole out and deal are sometimes interchangeable, but dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply.

doled out what little food there was

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 deal
Noun
This comes a few months after Disney struck a landmark OpenAI deal that saw the Mouse House invest $1B in the artificial intelligence giant and hand over characters from Frozen and Star Wars to generative AI video app Sora. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026 The meeting came on a day that the league had said at least a handshake agreement on a labor deal would need to be done to start the season as scheduled. —Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
Horizon went 5-0 and dealt host Lake Brantley its first loss (25-17, 25-20) to win the Sunshine Cup tournament title. —Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026 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. —ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deal
  1. trade
  2. negotiate
  3. sell
  4. bargain
Verb
  • The Rams gave safety Quentin Lake an extension in January, traded for McDuffie and agreed to terms with safety Kam Curl on an extension.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
  • China and Australia traded accusations over an encounter involving helicopters above the Yellow Sea.
    — Angus Whitley, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
Definition of trade
Verb
  • But general-education courses play a pivotal role in a department’s ability to recruit potential majors, pull in tuition revenue and negotiate hiring additional faculty.
    — Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Leagues and players’ associations negotiate workplace rules, and those agreements are exempt from antitrust scrutiny.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of negotiate
Verb
  • The ongoing partnership continues to captivate fashion fans—while selling through, almost instantaneously.
    — Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
  • The president dropped by a retreat at his Doral golf club to sell the Iran war and pump up Republican lawmakers ahead of the midterm elections.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of sell
Verb
  • One potential—though untested—workaround would be for conferences, which are private entities, to serve as a joint employer that bargains with a players’ union.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Mar. 2026
  • If the companies want stability, that can always be achieved by being willing to bargain and address the very real concerns of writers.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of bargain

Phrases Containing deal

Browse Nearby Words

deaf to reason
deal
dealer
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Cite this Entry

“Deal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deal. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deal

Nglish: Translation of deal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about deal

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