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
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
Justices horse trade and revise for months on major cases, though they’re not known for flipping sides.
—Dallas News, 3 May 2022
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
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
Verb
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
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
Justices horse trade and revise for months on major cases, though they’re not known for flipping sides.
—Dallas News, 3 May 2022
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
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
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The proposal by the Commission was negotiated behind closed doors and largely held secret until the final draft was approved.—
Jon McGowan,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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This month, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro negotiated a prisoner swap with the United States, releasing 10 American citizens in his custody and dozens of Venezuelan political prisoners.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Both sides had finalized the trade pact in May after three years of intense negotiations — marked by thorny issues such as visas, tariff reduction and tax breaks.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
25 July 2025
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Will this group have any meaningful voice in the state of the contract negotiations?—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Verb
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As for the second-round picks dealt, each previously was gained in trades, one from the Max Strus sign-and-trade transaction with the Cleveland Cavaliers, one from last season’s trade of Thomas Bryant to the Indiana Pacers.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
12 July 2025
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Update: This article was updated on July 11, 2025 to note that Ferrero and its affiliates have acquired at least 21 companies in 9 countries since 2015, with eight deals in the U.S. since 2017 before the WK Kellogg deal.—
Giacomo Tognini,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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These roles often demand visibility, compromise and ongoing negotiation.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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The pause placed on countermeasures by the E.U, and only two weeks until Trump's latest duties come into effect, both sides have a narrow window to negotiate a compromise and avoid a major escalation in the trade war.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Combined with inflation boosting home repair prices, the costs of homeownership are more than many people bargained for.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
17 July 2025
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And managing them came with more responsibilities than Niven bargained for.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
7 July 2025
Noun
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Wilken would point out the parties negotiated the settlement for more than a year and had ample opportunity to clarify what words meant.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 July 2025
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This emotional approach has proven remarkably effective, generating billions in verdicts and settlements.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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So are basic physics, the general understanding of human limitations, logic.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
20 July 2025
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For more than 30 years, Wolf Entertainment has shaped the public’s understanding of crime and punishment arguably more than any other cultural force.—
John J. Lennon,
Rolling Stone,
19 July 2025
Noun
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Red Sox fans are being asked to buy food and drinks outside of Fenway before turning out for games, as ballpark concession workers are ready to take to the picket line.—
Lance Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
23 July 2025
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The union, which represents concession employees at the stadium as well as other hospitality workers throughout Boston, on June 15 authorized a strike that could be called at any point during the MLB season.—
Jason Clinkscales,
Sportico.com,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horse trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20trade. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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