trade-off

noun

ˈtrād-ˌȯf How to pronounce trade-off (audio)
Definition of trade-offnext
as in exchange
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another a trade-off in which a company got a celebrity spokesperson and a fading star got some much-needed cash

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 trade-off Rising financial strains on American workers are forcing them to make painful trade-offs, such as skipping medical care, to make ends meet, new research shows. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 German consumer products company Braun spent more than 10 years rethinking the trade-off between a close shave and a comfortable one. — Nina Derwin, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 So far, cruisers seem enthusiastic about these trade-offs, with several lines already planning to roll out this expansion into future seasons. — Brittany Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026 Johnson is betting the trade-off — an aggressive, paint-punishing offense with the potential to give opposing defenses night sweats — will be worth the gamble. — Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trade-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trade-off
exchange
Noun
  • Reliance Industries, the parent company of the telecom operator, said in an exchange filing.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
  • High-pressure cooling channels run vertically along the side walls of each cell to create a much larger surface area for heat exchange.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of exchange

Browse Nearby Words

trade names
trade-off
trade-offs
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Cite this Entry

“Trade-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trade-off. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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