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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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
-
While the company can still try to sell the parking meters to someone else, Johnson said the City Council would have to approve any such deal, giving the city leverage to try to negotiate better terms from any potential buyer.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Taylor was not willing to negotiate access to her autonomy and moved forward with the laborious act of rerecording old albums to regain control of them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Last week, the House did pass legislation to extend the expired subsidies, and negotiations have moved to the Senate.—
Blake Farmer,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
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While the possibility of another strike exists if negotiations fail in the future, both sides say no one wants to repeat what happened.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Media executives have been gearing up for AI to deal the journalism industry a fatal blow as the advent of the tech has left devastating holes in web traffic.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Viel played 10 games with Boston before being dealt to the Ducks last Friday.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The legislation was not included in a major health policy compromise announced Tuesday between Republicans and Democrats in Congress, Politico reported.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
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If gifting clothing feels too much for a new relationship, Crown Affair’s editor-favorite hair gel is a happy compromise.—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For many families, medical care is something to be bargained with, not something that arrives when needed.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
19 Jan. 2026
-
On December 31, the unions filed with the State of California, alleging unfair labor practices by Solano County and arguing that Solano is not bargaining in good faith.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
13 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
-
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
-
Spirit, energy and enthusiasm When there were loud external calls for upgrades at safety in August, head coach Dave Canales firmly backed Scott because of his leadership and understanding of the defense.—
Mike Kaye
January 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Tensor said the system emphasizes contextual understanding rather than simple object detection, allowing the AI to adapt to complex and unpredictable real-world driving conditions.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Officials in Brussels, Berlin, and Paris viewed early proposals as overly concessive to Moscow, insufficiently safeguarding Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity — particularly regarding Donbas, Crimea, and possible concessions beyond current lines of control.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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While the big brands have switched over to licensed shops or a concession model with Saks Global, smaller designers don’t have that protection.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horse-trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse-trade. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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