as in exchanges
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-offs
For Atlas, this means proving that a highly agile, fully electric system can perform sustained, repetitive work without the trade-offs that come with research-grade complexity.
—
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
Data can support better planning and clarify trade-offs.
—Malana Vantyler, Ascend Agency, 6 Nov. 2025
But there are significant trade-offs.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025
Anyone who prefers unfiltered photos, transparent trade-offs, and surgeon involvement over highlight reels.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
But there are trade-offs here, too.
—Nikita Ostrovsky, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
There are definitely trade-offs for doing so, including seeing costs rise as Bartesian grows and health care prices surge.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025
Understanding the real trade-offs.
—FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Challenges and trade-offs Geothermal energy is not without technical, environmental and economic hurdles.
—Moones Alamooti, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
Data can support better planning and clarify trade-offs.
—Malana Vantyler, Ascend Agency, 6 Nov. 2025
But there are significant trade-offs.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025
Anyone who prefers unfiltered photos, transparent trade-offs, and surgeon involvement over highlight reels.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
But there are trade-offs here, too.
—Nikita Ostrovsky, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
There are definitely trade-offs for doing so, including seeing costs rise as Bartesian grows and health care prices surge.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025
Understanding the real trade-offs.
—FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Challenges and trade-offs Geothermal energy is not without technical, environmental and economic hurdles.
—Moones Alamooti, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trade-offs
exchanges
Noun
-
The House Oversight Committee’s first hearing on the Minnesota fraud scandal was complete with lawmakers pointing fingers and exchanging barbs in heated exchanges.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Flirty texts, meaningful exchanges and chance encounters spark something unexpected, especially through everyday moments like errands, commutes or late-night chats that start casually and end with momentum.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trade-offs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trade-offs. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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