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 These developments, usually considered in isolation, illustrate that voters and politicians alike want things that are fundamentally incompatible but refuse to acknowledge the trade-offs. — Ramesh Ponnuru, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2026 Is that a trade-off residents and businesses are willing to make? — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026 One trade-off of making a sauna feel like a display case is that the glass surface shows fingerprints immediately. — Evan Russum, Architectural Digest, 22 Aug. 2026 Goals must be defined, trade-offs evaluated and success measured appropriately. — Alex Shahidi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trade-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trade-off
exchange
Noun
  • Meanwhile, a federal judge on Wednesday rejected the Justice Department's push to force Google to sell its ad exchange, another victory for the company against the government's antitrust efforts.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Drew Troast, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Additionally, the hoard contained both Arab and Anglo-Saxon coins, indicating the Vikings’ involvement in broader economic exchange between Europe and Southwest Asia during this period.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 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 6 Sep. 2026.

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