as in exchanges
to give up (something) and take something else in return
we swapped our other lawn mower for our neighbors' old snowblower
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in trades
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another
we made a swap: I'll do the dishes tonight and she'll do them for me tomorrow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swaps
Lara Walsh, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Follow along as Santa swaps his sleigh for a Carnival cruise ship!
—Lauren Ashley Bishop, Variety, 4 Jan. 2026
Samsung swaps the typical fingerprint sensor embedded in the display for one built into the power button on the side.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
For an even more streamlined ingredient list, opt for their organic series which aside from using organic ingredients, also swaps the corn syrup for cane sugar.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
That swaps the two teams in terms of their likely College Football Playoff seeding, with the bracket to be announced on Sunday.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
This merely swaps one highly suspect notion for another.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 26 Nov. 2025
The prices aren’t the only thing unique–Brian Head sits a bit more southern in the state, meaning the geography swaps traditional granite cliffs for red rock and ancient lava flows.
—Francesca Krempa, StyleCaster, 17 Nov. 2025
But while Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk swaps out King’s downbeat conclusion for an even bleaker ending, director Edgar Wright’s new take on The Running Man opts for a hopeful finale that feels downright naive.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
In it, Oldham costumes up as a shaggy woodland monster, which—after a more nimble inhabitant seemingly swaps into the outfit—proceeds to engage a human in an elaborate dance routine.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
Getting plants from in-person plant swaps, neighborhood plant sales, and collectors’ groups on social media reclaims individuality.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
Try healthy food and drink swaps.
—Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 6 Jan. 2026
The breakthrough swaps oxygen production for the oxidation of glucose, a sugar easily derived from farm waste like cotton and wheat stalks.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Between Friendsgivings, office parties, gift swaps, festive dinners, and New Year’s Eve bashes, we are inundated with celebrations.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Credit-default swaps — insurance that pays out if a borrower can't service its debt — have widened to multi-year highs for Oracle.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
The Eagles also acquired cornerbacks Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander in deals that involved late-round pick swaps and backup wide receiver John Metchie III.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
In a new trailer for The Death of Robin Hood released on January 6, Jackman swaps out his clean-shaven ethos for a rugged silver fox transformation, complete with a long grizzled beard and wiry gray hair.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Follow along as Santa swaps his sleigh for a Carnival cruise ship!
—Lauren Ashley Bishop, Variety, 4 Jan. 2026
Samsung swaps the typical fingerprint sensor embedded in the display for one built into the power button on the side.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
For an even more streamlined ingredient list, opt for their organic series which aside from using organic ingredients, also swaps the corn syrup for cane sugar.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
That swaps the two teams in terms of their likely College Football Playoff seeding, with the bracket to be announced on Sunday.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
This merely swaps one highly suspect notion for another.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 26 Nov. 2025
The prices aren’t the only thing unique–Brian Head sits a bit more southern in the state, meaning the geography swaps traditional granite cliffs for red rock and ancient lava flows.
—Francesca Krempa, StyleCaster, 17 Nov. 2025
But while Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk swaps out King’s downbeat conclusion for an even bleaker ending, director Edgar Wright’s new take on The Running Man opts for a hopeful finale that feels downright naive.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
In recent years, Russia has arrested a number of foreigners — mainly Americans — on various criminal charges and then released them in prisoner swaps with the United States and other Western nations.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
In it, Oldham costumes up as a shaggy woodland monster, which—after a more nimble inhabitant seemingly swaps into the outfit—proceeds to engage a human in an elaborate dance routine.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
Getting plants from in-person plant swaps, neighborhood plant sales, and collectors’ groups on social media reclaims individuality.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
Try healthy food and drink swaps.
—Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 6 Jan. 2026
The breakthrough swaps oxygen production for the oxidation of glucose, a sugar easily derived from farm waste like cotton and wheat stalks.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Between Friendsgivings, office parties, gift swaps, festive dinners, and New Year’s Eve bashes, we are inundated with celebrations.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Credit-default swaps — insurance that pays out if a borrower can't service its debt — have widened to multi-year highs for Oracle.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
The Eagles also acquired cornerbacks Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander in deals that involved late-round pick swaps and backup wide receiver John Metchie III.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaps
Verb
-
Bessent insists the rescue isn’t a bailout because under the currency swap agreement Argentina exchanges pesos for dollars.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Miami field goal After each team exchanges punts, Miami’s Carter Davis kicks a 41-yard field goal to get UM back within four of Louisville.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The $6 billion hedge fund firm, which trades credit relative value opportunities, has built up large stakes in several trusts, often with the aim of overhauling the boards in order to drive change and slash the large NAV discounts.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
-
About half of Congress — both Democrats and Republicans — trades stock.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Target’s four-person meal costs less than $20, about the same as in 2024, but substitutes green beans and cream of mushroom soup for French bread and frozen corn — also not an apples-to-apples comparison.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For passengers, nothing changes.—
Ryan Craggs,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
-
For example, the cost would be lower if the Defense Department changes out stationery, signage and nameplates over time as needed, rather than swapping out those items all at once.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaps. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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