horse trading 1 of 3

noun (1)

as in bargaining

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horse-trading

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in negotiation

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horse-trading

3 of 3

verb

present participle of horse-trade
as in negotiating
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

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 trading
Noun
Now an obvious fix passed by Congress last year is at risk of unraveling because of partisan horse trading. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 6 June 2026 As the day wears on, look for horse trading, threats and some old-fashioned political tricks as lawmakers try to push their bills across before the end of business Friday. — AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026 In discussing these choices, both of which will ding your credit record, try to do a little horse trading. — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 4 Dec. 2025 Both sides have priorities, and there is horse trading and eventually compromise, at least on some issues. — Tom Kertscher, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
But legal experts said the agreement reflects what was likely weeks, if not months, of careful backroom horse-trading. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 There was also an unseemly whiff of insider partisan horse-trading here—two Democrats for two Republicans—in a razor-close chamber. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026 This arrangement, the result of historical horse-trading for Haredi political backing, was unpopular in peacetime. — Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026 The series of votes also came after top Democrats and the White House engaged in their latest horse-trading. — Al Weaver, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026 But turnout has been persistently low, months of horse-trading to form a government are likely to follow, and voters are weary of high levels of corruption. — Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 13 Nov. 2025 This horse-trading process lacks any moral code or transparency. — Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horse trading
  1. bargaining
  2. negotiation
  3. negotiating
  4. horse trade
  5. auction
  6. dealing
  7. transaction
  8. haggling
Noun
  • However, the threat of taking California to the Supreme Court may be enough to bring the state’s AG Rob Bonta back to the bargaining table.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • And neither side is inclined to move much this early in bargaining.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of bargaining
Noun
  • Iceland is headed toward rejecting a referendum that would have restarted negotiations to join the European Union more than a decade after previous talks died, the national broadcaster reported Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The report, however, notes that Uthmeier was in a position of authority over the aides leading the negotiations.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of negotiation
Verb
  • Furthermore, relationships themselves teach basic psychological capacities such as regulating emotions, tolerating disappointment, and negotiating differences—skills which therapy is supposed to cultivate.
    — David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Iran and Oman are negotiating a deal to temporarily open the strait.
    — Greg Myre, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of negotiating
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
  • 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, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2023
Definition of horse trade
Noun
  • Kusama’s large-scale sculptures and immersive installations break attendance records at museums and galleries around the world, and her works regularly set records at auction.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The auction was part of a charity effort to benefit the Ferrari Foundation, which funds global education initiatives.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of auction
Verb
  • Even at the top of the roster, hanging on to Trey Hendrickson rather than dealing him in March.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The impact of yesterday’s sharp drop in South Korean equities transmitted further into US markets overnight, spreading selling sentiment and dealing heavy blows to US semiconductor and memory stocks.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of dealing
Noun
  • Mirramezani said roughly a sixth of Iran’s non-oil exports also go to the UAE, while Dubai has long been an important hub for Iranian financial transactions.
    — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Once the immediate transactions are done, this is really the task that will define much of the new GM’s first year.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of transaction
Verb
  • Former executive chairman Daniel Levy had a reputation for haggling over deals, sometimes allowing rival clubs to steal transfer targets from them.
    — Jay Harris, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The 1967 drama is about estranged brothers who are forced to deal with each other while haggling over the sale of their recently deceased father’s furniture to a dealer.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of haggling

Browse Nearby Words

horse-trade (with)
horse trading
horse-trading
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Cite this Entry

“Horse trading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20trading. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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