Synonyms of trade-off

trade-off

noun

ˈtrād-ˌȯf 

as in exchange

a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another

a trade-off in which a company got a celebrity spokesperson and a fading star got some much-needed cash

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exchange
• swap
• trade
• deal
• back-and-forth
• bargain
• bargaining
• commutation
• barter
• substitution
• dealing
• truck
• replacement
• negotiation
• transaction
• quid pro quo
• dicker
• reciprocation
• recompense
• haggling
• dickering
• horse trade
• horse trading
• logrolling
• requital

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of trade-off

Overall, the trade-offs in cost and speed may not appeal to AI firms looking for the cheapest way to scan millions of titles, and Google’s method may not be the best way to handle rare books anyway. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026

The take off is noticably more sluggish with these heavier tires, and my clutch yearns for less un-sprung weight, but the trade-off in ride quality is worth it for DDing. — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 12 Aug. 2026

Shopping assistants can help compare products and surface trade-offs. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2026

So the trade-off has been around some of the earlier testing and longer sales cycles. — Francesca Cassidy, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026