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
Relevance
as in negotiation
Related Words
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 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
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
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
-
Many of the examples are stark, like the Potawatomi Nation which had negotiated with the federal government in hopes of staying in their homelands in the upper Midwest.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Neighbors Settling down in the suburbs with their newborn, Kelly (Rose Byrne) and Mac (Seth Rogen) attempt to negotiate a quiet-hours pact with the frat house next door.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Trump earlier this week said India had offered to cut its tariffs on American imports to zero, while complaining that the proposal had come too late in the negotiation.—
Priyanka Salve,Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Hours earlier, the government announced that some 300 South Koreans who were detained in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid last Thursday on the Hyundai-LG joint factory in southern Georgia will return to Korea on a chartered flight following negotiations with the US.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
South Africa Takes Control Early Nigeria were dealt an early blow when full-back Ola Aina limped off just seven minutes into the contest, forcing head coach Éric Chelle into an unplanned change.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Overnight, China’s budding rights-defense movement was dealt a fatal blow — and with it, the Yangs’ case.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This is compromise in the modern world of media.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The logic behind his appointment is that Lecornu might be able to strike a deal with the Socialists to make the budget more palatable – the same compromise that Bayrou used to push through this year’s budget with concessions to the left.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Potential trouble arises when the wily victim of Danny’s, Pauline, starts snooping around the house, hears Danny’s voice and starts to bargain for her silence.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Union leaders bargained with the administration for those who were laid off to receive three months of severance, rather than two weeks of pay per year of service; three months of COBRA insurance coverage; and rehiring priority for any positions becoming vacant over the next two years.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In May, council approved a settlement agreement with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings worth more than $305,000 during a private meeting.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Normally, settlement money would be sent to an attorney’s trust account, then sent to the client minus any agreed upon fees.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
She has been hailed for her deep understanding of local government and ability to reach across the aisle to implement her agenda.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Togetherness, understanding, players who want to fight in the same direction.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The brittle, eco-friendly bamboo straw is another concession to the community, as are the splinters.—
Joe Joyce,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
To integrate Parmigiano Reggiano into the Jets’ game day experience, the two brands have revealed new activations at MetLife Stadium, ranging from concessions to features on the stadium’s videoboard during home games.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horse trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20trade. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share