horse trading 1 of 3

horse-trading

2 of 3

noun (2)

horse-trading

3 of 3

verb

present participle of horse-trade

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
The Security Council’s choice this time will certainly reflect the usual backroom horse-trading among the body’s three major veto-wielding nations – Russia, China, and the United States. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Sep. 2026 There’s likely to be some horse-trading to get those votes over the next two weeks. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026 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 Those bills are often the result of last-minute negotiations among lawmakers and horse-trading for budget votes. — Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 11 June 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 This horse-trading process lacks any moral code or transparency. — Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horse trading
Noun
  • Sam Carlin, Local 952 union representative, said bargaining with the county has been ongoing for months.
    — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • During the last bargaining session, Eric Johnson, president of the Hialeah Association of Firefighters Local 1102, warned that staffing levels are already thin.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The European Composer and Songwriter Alliance helps fill that gap, uniting national associations to lobby policymakers and guide young composers through contracts and negotiations.
    — Ben Croll, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Trade negotiations between the United States and Mexico have reached an impasse after months of talks between officials about a deal to reduce duties on critical imports from beyond the southern border.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • He gets pummeled by waves and rip currents while negotiating the famously difficult shore dive but is soon swimming among brightly colored marine life and undulating kelp forests that filter sunlight from the surface.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The more balanced market gives home shoppers potentially more leverage in negotiating better terms with sellers, especially if a property has not fetched offers in weeks or months.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
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
Noun
  • Director Dustin Rikert worked efficiently, filming several takes of attendees filtering into the auction.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • So rather than going to the team that hoped to restore it, the Uptown ended up being auctioned off to somebody else at a tax auction.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The Brewers even have their own version of the White Flag trade, dealing star closer Josh Hader to the Padres for four players with the team in first at the 2022 deadline.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Last night, Dave Roberts left Blake Snell in a bit too long, even though Snell was dealing.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Florida law imposes disclosure requirements concerning certain potential conflicts, and directors should disclose relevant financial or personal interests before the board considers any related transactions or decisions.
    — Gary M. Mars, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The basic model of competitive markets which one finds in an introductory economics textbook—where independent firms engage in cold arm’s-length transactions motivated by unadulterated self-interest—does not apply to the industry.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The Trasks encounter a wide swath of citizens, haggling with sneaky cheats, exploiting innocent fools, and befriending big-hearted neighbors.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2026
  • All that hoopla results in a heavy lift for news networks and involves haggling over the real estate for anchor booths and transmission facilities.
    — Daniel Strauss, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Horse trading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20trading. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster