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
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Recent Examples of trade-off
And if a risk-free, stars-only safe space is the sole way to glimpse them in a more naturalistic mode, that seems to be a trade-off that millions are willing to make.
—
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
The trade-offs will be on a different scale.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 8 Oct. 2025
Cap savings aside, the trade-off of Emberson for Broberg is a net loss.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Challenges and trade-offs Geothermal energy is not without technical, environmental and economic hurdles.
—Moones Alamooti, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trade-off
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
The trade-offs will be on a different scale.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 8 Oct. 2025
Cap savings aside, the trade-off of Emberson for Broberg is a net loss.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Challenges and trade-offs Geothermal energy is not without technical, environmental and economic hurdles.
—Moones Alamooti, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trade-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trade-off
exchange
Noun
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Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in jail for criminal conspiracy last month, for his role in a scheme to finance his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favors.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
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Iza forwarded the exchange to an associate, as well as a photo of himself posing with a group of officers.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trade-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trade-off. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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