as in exchange
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another
in politics nobody does something for nothing: there's always a quid pro quo involved
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Recent Examples of quid pro quo
Sometimes, Epstein’s quid pro quo was explicit In dozens of exchanges where power brokering like this played out, Epstein’s motivations occasionally showed through.
—
Chris Quintana, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
In some instances, the interaction may have a veneer of consent, or of quid pro quo.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Despite Nahla's skepticism, recruiting the pirate to save the hostage kids is an entirely reasonable play, a Hannibal Lecter-esque, quid pro quo transaction from which both sides stand to gain.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Crime 101 takes the same view of quid pro quo as the most basic form of American commerce and makes simple but brutal points about value and self-worth, where your car, its year, make and model, matters more than your resumé.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for quid pro quo
Chris Quintana, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
In some instances, the interaction may have a veneer of consent, or of quid pro quo.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Despite Nahla's skepticism, recruiting the pirate to save the hostage kids is an entirely reasonable play, a Hannibal Lecter-esque, quid pro quo transaction from which both sides stand to gain.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Crime 101 takes the same view of quid pro quo as the most basic form of American commerce and makes simple but brutal points about value and self-worth, where your car, its year, make and model, matters more than your resumé.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for quid pro quo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quid pro quo
exchange
Noun
-
As one person briefed on the exchange recalled, Altman then denied having made the claim.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The union offered to have workers return to work in less than a week in exchange for continued contract negotiations.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quid pro quo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quid%20pro%20quo. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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