as in to negotiate
to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase
I horse-traded with the painter: I did his tax returns, and he did my kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in negotiation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of horse-trade
Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 4 Oct. 2023
The blandishments McCarthy might have offered to horse trade his way to the speakership — fancy titles, perks, a fundraising appearance — meant little to those Republican holdouts who would like nothing more than to burn Washington to the ground.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2023
Congress, by contrast, can hold wide-ranging hearings, issue subpoenas, survey and even commission empirical research, weigh fiscal trade-offs, consider constituent popularity, balance different values and interests, horse trade, negotiate, and forge compromises.
—Ian MacDougall, Harper’s Magazine , 28 Sep. 2022
Krikorian, from the restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies, argued DACA recipients could have gotten green cards by now, if Democrats had been willing to horse trade for tougher enforcement.
—Dallas News, 18 July 2022
In the early 1960s, the bistate agency took over what was then the struggling Hudson and Manhattan Railroad as part of a horse trade between New Jersey and New York that committed the Port to build the first World Trade Center.
—Paul Berger, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2018
And Paul George finally escaped Indiana, albeit to a dark-horse trade partner in the Oklahoma City Thunder.
—Peter Dawson and Pdawson@star-Telegram.com, star-telegram, 13 Dec. 2017
Noun
The rising profile of McHenry and Emmer is likely bullish for crypto bills, as both work to convince Democrats on their committee—and their counterparts over in the Senate—to horse trade over stablecoin and market structure legislation.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 4 Oct. 2023
The blandishments McCarthy might have offered to horse trade his way to the speakership — fancy titles, perks, a fundraising appearance — meant little to those Republican holdouts who would like nothing more than to burn Washington to the ground.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2023
Congress, by contrast, can hold wide-ranging hearings, issue subpoenas, survey and even commission empirical research, weigh fiscal trade-offs, consider constituent popularity, balance different values and interests, horse trade, negotiate, and forge compromises.
—Ian MacDougall, Harper’s Magazine , 28 Sep. 2022
Krikorian, from the restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies, argued DACA recipients could have gotten green cards by now, if Democrats had been willing to horse trade for tougher enforcement.
—Dallas News, 18 July 2022
In the early 1960s, the bistate agency took over what was then the struggling Hudson and Manhattan Railroad as part of a horse trade between New Jersey and New York that committed the Port to build the first World Trade Center.
—Paul Berger, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2018
And Paul George finally escaped Indiana, albeit to a dark-horse trade partner in the Oklahoma City Thunder.
—Peter Dawson and Pdawson@star-Telegram.com, star-telegram, 13 Dec. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horse-trade
Verb
-
Such cover is often used in sectors such as agriculture – with pay-outs for farmers when a flood of a set magnitude occurs, for example – and provides policyholders with a speedy settlement, rather than requiring them to negotiate with loss adjusters.—
David Prosser,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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During his insulated schooling and military training, nobody told Joseph that South Africa’s white civilian leaders had changed their view of Mandela and were beginning to negotiate with him.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Murphy and Padilla, along with a small group of Democratic senators, have spent the past two days calling colleagues to whip opposition to the DHS funding bill, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.—
Patrick Maguire,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
-
The film’s opening stretch whizzes along as Charli — a natural, engaging actor — is dragged from one banal, vaguely embarrassing meeting or negotiation to another, sketchy vignettes usually punctuated at their close by Charli putting on her dark sunglasses and retreating back inward.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Logic can explain valuation ranges and deal structures.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
At the time of a ceasefire deal that Israel and Hamas agreed in October, 48 hostages remained in Gaza, 28 of whom were believed to be dead, including Gvili.—
Nidal al-Mughrabi,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That can lead to stylistic compromises that derail the lust factor for buyers.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
There was also one player in search of an out-of-the-box compromise.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Since the jury decision in 2022, the township has been accruing interest on the unpaid settlement.—
Laura A. Bischoff,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Jan. 2026
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Since January 2024, JCPS attorneys have reached settlements in more than 40 lawsuits, with the district agreeing to nearly $14 million in payments.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
While there are a lot more nuances to dynasty fantasy football, this should give you a brief understanding of the fundamentals.—
Steve Bradshaw,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
How have your careers as an attorney and Air Force JAG officer shaped your understanding of advocacy?—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Fatu slammed an official through a table as the action spilled toward the concession stands in the Bell Centre.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
There did not appear to be any immediate concessions from Greenland or Denmark, which controls the island as a semi-autonomous territory.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horse-trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse-trade. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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