Synonyms of trades

trades 1 of 2

noun

plural of trade

1

as in exchanges

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

when the other team unexpectedly offered to hand over its top pitcher for our star shortstop, our coach agreed to the trade

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exchanges
• swaps
• dealings
• trucks
• barters
• dickers
• deals
• commutations
• trade-offs
• transactions
• bargains
• quid pro quos
• substitutions
• negotiations
• replacements
• back-and-forths
• reciprocations
• horse trades
• recompenses
• logrollings
• requitals

2

as in crafts

an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands

a youth eager to learn the trade of cabinetmaking

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crafts
• arts
• skills
• handicrafts
• handcrafts
• occupations
• professions
• métiers
• vocations
• callings

3

as in professions

the activity by which one regularly makes a living

writing is my trade

Synonyms & Similar Words

• professions
• occupations
• vocations
• works
• employments
• lines
• callings
• games
• jobs
• lays
• tasks
• positions
• missions
• businesses
• livelihoods
• assignments
• places
• arts
• enterprises
• crafts
• calls
• situations
• duties
• gigs
• fields
• offices
• handicrafts
• lifeworks
• engagements
• livings
• functions
• appointments
• loads
• rackets
• métiers
• handcrafts
• billets
• posts
• berths
• workloads

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pursuits
• hobbies
• avocations

4

as in sales

the transfer of ownership of something from one person to another for a price

the trade of all of her holdings in the company just before the stock plunged in value immediately aroused suspicions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sales
• transactions
• deals
• purchases
• auctions
• negotiations
• bargains
• buys
• steals
• clearances
• fairs
• silent auctions
• haggles
• fire sales
• closeouts
• garage sales
• yard sales
• tag sales
• rummage sales
• jumble sales

trades

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of trade

1

as in deals

to carry on the business of buying and selling goods or other property

the U.S. agreed to trade with China

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deals
• sells
• negotiates
• exchanges
• swaps
• smuggles
• traffics
• purchases
• bargains
• auctions
• barters
• transacts
• markets
• buys
• merchandises
• supplies
• retails
• resells
• horse-trades
• fences
• wholesales
• black-markets
• invests
• corners
• distributes
• peddles
• takes
• fair-trades
• rebuys
• monopolizes
• picks up
• engrosses
• speculates
• day-trades
• vends
• undersells
• bootlegs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blacks
• boycotts
• blackballs

2

as in swaps

to give up (something) and take something else in return

I'll trade my chocolate chip cookie for your bag of chips

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exchanges
• swaps
• substitutes
• changes
• switches
• shifts
• replaces
• commutes
• interchanges
• supersedes
• displaces
• yields
• surrenders
• reciprocates
• hands over
• cedes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of trades

Noun

Their trades from life before the camps are flourishing through small businesses. — Maansi Srivastava, NPR, 21 July 2026

All of this comes on the heels of a big year across hockey — one highlighted by franchise-altering trades, the Olympics, growth across the PWHL and a banger of a Stanley Cup Final. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Organizations like The Home Depot, Lowe's and others have made significant investments in skilled trades and contractor education, helping raise awareness and expand access. — Jenny Nail, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Despite a record backlog, improving demand trends, and significant AI opportunities, the stock trades at a multiple that remains well below historical norms. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 14 July 2026

The film’s existence was confirmed by the Hollywood trades, but details were of course scarce, as Baron Cohen made the project in characteristic secrecy. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2026

This includes a range of offerings, often in high-demand and well-paying fields such as childcare, nursing, and skilled trades such as welding, truck driving or auto repair. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 13 July 2026

With the signing of former Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams on Monday, the Lakers have eight new players, all of them arriving either via trades, free agency or the draft. — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Verb

Toyota trades only modestly above the peers, but that premium is justified by stronger margins, superior scale and a massive buyback program. — Tony Zhang, CNBC, 22 July 2026

Front Beach is close enough to downtown for an easy swim between meals, while Halibut Point State Park, a short drive away, trades village charm for granite quarries. — Jenn Sinrich, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026

Circe trades seduction for something darker When Odysseus’ men encounter Circe in Homer’s poem, the goddess drugs them and turns them into pigs. — Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Andrew Garfield trades modern superheroes for medieval revolution in the trailer for The Uprising, Paul Greengrass’ historical drama inspired by England’s 1381 peasant revolt. — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026

The stock trades roughly 30 percent below its 52-week high after a June that was its worst month in more than 25 years, driven by the fear that $190 billion in annual AI capital spending will never earn a return. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Heavier platform trades some mobility for greater sustained firepower. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026