as in to negotiate
to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase
I horse-traded with the painter: I did his tax returns, and he did my kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in negotiation
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of horse trade
Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 4 Oct. 2023
The blandishments McCarthy might have offered to horse trade his way to the speakership — fancy titles, perks, a fundraising appearance — meant little to those Republican holdouts who would like nothing more than to burn Washington to the ground.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2023
Congress, by contrast, can hold wide-ranging hearings, issue subpoenas, survey and even commission empirical research, weigh fiscal trade-offs, consider constituent popularity, balance different values and interests, horse trade, negotiate, and forge compromises.
—Ian MacDougall, Harper’s Magazine , 28 Sep. 2022
Krikorian, from the restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies, argued DACA recipients could have gotten green cards by now, if Democrats had been willing to horse trade for tougher enforcement.
—Dallas News, 18 July 2022
In the early 1960s, the bistate agency took over what was then the struggling Hudson and Manhattan Railroad as part of a horse trade between New Jersey and New York that committed the Port to build the first World Trade Center.
—Paul Berger, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2018
And Paul George finally escaped Indiana, albeit to a dark-horse trade partner in the Oklahoma City Thunder.
—Peter Dawson and Pdawson@star-Telegram.com, star-telegram, 13 Dec. 2017
Verb
The rising profile of McHenry and Emmer is likely bullish for crypto bills, as both work to convince Democrats on their committee—and their counterparts over in the Senate—to horse trade over stablecoin and market structure legislation.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 4 Oct. 2023
The blandishments McCarthy might have offered to horse trade his way to the speakership — fancy titles, perks, a fundraising appearance — meant little to those Republican holdouts who would like nothing more than to burn Washington to the ground.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2023
Congress, by contrast, can hold wide-ranging hearings, issue subpoenas, survey and even commission empirical research, weigh fiscal trade-offs, consider constituent popularity, balance different values and interests, horse trade, negotiate, and forge compromises.
—Ian MacDougall, Harper’s Magazine , 28 Sep. 2022
Krikorian, from the restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies, argued DACA recipients could have gotten green cards by now, if Democrats had been willing to horse trade for tougher enforcement.
—Dallas News, 18 July 2022
In the early 1960s, the bistate agency took over what was then the struggling Hudson and Manhattan Railroad as part of a horse trade between New Jersey and New York that committed the Port to build the first World Trade Center.
—Paul Berger, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2018
And Paul George finally escaped Indiana, albeit to a dark-horse trade partner in the Oklahoma City Thunder.
—Peter Dawson and Pdawson@star-Telegram.com, star-telegram, 13 Dec. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horse trade
Verb
-
Many countries have sought to negotiate to remove or reduce the tariffs, some have made deals, while others have enforced counter tariffs.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The Blackhawks and Kaiser’s agent had been negotiating for some time this offseason, but neither side had been in a rush, with the 23-year-old Kaiser having no arbitration rights.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The president has also worked out agreements for other countries, including Indonesia, to step up their agriculture imports amid negotiations.—
Bailey Schulz,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The forward has expressed disinterest in being used as a scapegoat for Golden State, which is why the negotiations have not made any progress given both parties are reluctant to blink first.—
Valentina Martinez,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Deliveroo saw its shares plunge 30% in 2021 on the day of its initial public offering, dealing a significant blow to London's ambitions to compete with New York for more high-profile tech listings.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Svanson’s good work in those lower-leverage outings gave the Cardinals confidence to deal away bullpen pieces at the trading deadline – including star closer Ryan Helsley.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But the company agreed to add Biglari’s pick of Michael Goodwin, former PetSmart CTO, to the board as a compromise.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
-
These agents of chaos must be exorcized from our nation without apology and without compromise.—
Brooke L. Rollins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Contenders for the leadership of Brazil’s right wing coalition are already emerging and are bargaining for Bolsonaro’s endorsement for being presidential candidates in the 2026 elections.—
Adriana Carranca,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Oscar nominee and Lord of the Rings alum Astin will have quite the task ahead of them at the top of next year as SAG-AFTRA returns to the negotiating table with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which collectively bargains on behalf of the major Hollywood studios.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In traditional finance, timestamps define settlement windows, payment deadlines, and lien enforcement.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Those cases ended in $15 million and $16 million settlement payments, respectively.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There’s an understanding among Hawaii residents that only students with Hawaiian blood will be admitted.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The coming flyby allows the chance for spacecraft to get up close and observe how interactions with Earth's gravitational field and magnetosphere influences and changes Apophis, boosting our understanding of asteroid physics.—
Andrew Jones,
Space.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Maersk recently acquired the concession from CPKC and Lanco Group/Mi-Jack to operate the rail.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Robinson voted in favor of the proposal earlier after Joyce offered two concessions in an effort to reach a compromise.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horse trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20trade. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share