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
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as in negotiation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Noun
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horse-trade
Verb
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During the meeting, Trump berated Zelensky, accusing him of insufficient gratitude for U.S. military support and pressuring him to negotiate a peace deal with Russia under terms dictated by the Trump administration.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
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Trump, who has been negotiating with Russian President Valdimir Putin to end his three-year Russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine − without participation from Ukraine or its European allies, much to their chagrin.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The process involves navigating valuations, negotiations, and often, fierce competition; requiring strong communication and negotiation skills, market insights, and a deep understanding of domain valuations.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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And though there will be many issues to tackle when negotiations start next year, the Dodgers’ staggering spending spree over the last two offseasons could represent some of the most contentious potential sticking points.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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While the news deals a devastating blow to Wembanyama and the team, both are likely to have a bright future ahead.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
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All considered, the Heat did a sound job of retooling the roster at the trade deadline, but the team’s ceiling took an obvious hit by dealing one of the best playoff-risers in league history in Jimmy Butler.—
James Jackson,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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His office struck a compromise on the gun bill by carving out certain weapons and allowing purchases if a buyer passes a training course.—
John Frank,
Axios,
24 Feb. 2025
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California’s Capitol has seen countless conflicts between economic interests, but few match the intensity of a duel between the fast food industry and labor unions that seemingly ended two years ago with compromise legislation raising the minimum wage to $20.—
Dan Walters,
The Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In Texas, for example, only police and firefighters can collectively bargain.—
Orlando Mayorquín,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
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The Biden appointees to the board also announced a rule that toughened the requirement that employers bargain with unions, even without the union having to win an election.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The settlement would also entail changes to roster limits for most sports, including men’s soccer, which would see its limit more than triple to 28 players.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
23 Feb. 2025
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However, this settlement is far from typical in numerous ways and Judge Wilken initially declined to give the settlement preliminary approval back in September.—
Joe Sabin,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Think of the persistence of a Christian understanding of American identity.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
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Two people can go into a room, have a conversation and emerge with a completely different understanding of what took place inside that room.—
Jackie Strause,
The Hollywood Reporter,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Much like filmmaking, which is perhaps why the movie finds sympathy in a tale of concession and economic exploitation.—
Matt Shaw,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Many still cannot understand why US President Donald Trump has turned so furiously on Zelensky and conceded key concessions to Putin before even starting talks.—
Edward Szekeres,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horse-trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse-trade. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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