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
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as in negotiation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of horse trade
Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 4 Oct. 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
Justices horse trade and revise for months on major cases, though they’re not known for flipping sides.
—Dallas News, 3 May 2022
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
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
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
Justices horse trade and revise for months on major cases, though they’re not known for flipping sides.
—Dallas News, 3 May 2022
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
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
-
The sale of the home entertainment rights was negotiated by Brian Andreotti on behalf of Music Box Films and Workman.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
24 July 2025
-
This month, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro negotiated a prisoner swap with the United States, releasing 10 American citizens in his custody and dozens of Venezuelan political prisoners.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Both sides had finalized the trade pact in May after three years of intense negotiations — marked by thorny issues such as visas, tariff reduction and tax breaks.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
25 July 2025
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The pushback comes as the firefighters union kicks off negotiations with the city on a new labor contract — and days after association members overwhelmingly approved a vote of no-confidence in Baker.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
As for the second-round picks dealt, each previously was gained in trades, one from the Max Strus sign-and-trade transaction with the Cleveland Cavaliers, one from last season’s trade of Thomas Bryant to the Indiana Pacers.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
12 July 2025
-
His career took off after he was dealt to the Clippers in 2022.—
Ivan Carter,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Those who insist that Israel should not exist, and that Jews around the world should be punished for the actions of the Israeli government, move far beyond the realm of compromise, conciliation, and political discourse and, in effect, become pro-violence.—
Brian Strauss,
Time,
30 July 2025
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He’s tried offering a range of compromises, including symbolic distance from his family.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
30 July 2025
Verb
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Combined with inflation boosting home repair prices, the costs of homeownership are more than many people bargained for.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
17 July 2025
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And managing them came with more responsibilities than Niven bargained for.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Roman is confident that his glib ways and expertise in wheeling and dealing can offer the brothers a financial settlement.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
29 July 2025
-
In 2018, the BBC also removed clauses from settlement deals that stopped individuals from discussing the agreement or the circumstances of their departure.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
Press Releases 2025 Quantum computings rapid rise is a risk to cybersecurity and business stability The remainder of 2025 will witness a range of both new and old cyberthreats as cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing develop in functionality and understanding.—
Chuck Brooks,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Her goal of expanding Tax IQ’s reach to underserved communities globally reflects an understanding that technology can scale impact in ways that traditional service delivery cannot.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
31 July 2025
Noun
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The duration of the strike will likely depend on whether Boeing offers additional concessions beyond the substantial wage and benefit improvements already proposed.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Aug. 2025
-
Yes, Trump had already made certain concessions in advance, by preemptively walking back his outrageous opening gambit in the tariff war when markets rebelled against the policy.—
Ross Douthat,
Mercury News,
3 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horse trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20trade. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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