trade-off

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

Relevance

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 Some are behavioral, such as an animal making trade-offs between avoiding harm and pursuing rewards. Bob Fischer, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025 If prices rise on staple foods, recipients may be forced to buy less, switch to lower-quality alternatives, or stretch meals further—all of which carry nutritional and health trade-offs over time. Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025 The likes of Australia have immediately responded by reaffirming their commitments to the practice, which is designed to stop American productions hoovering up local talent and pushing up prices with no trade-off. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2025 Join 52 others in the comments View Comments The trade-off of shifting production to the US is that automakers will be incentivized to ditch cheaper, low-margin vehicles in favor of more expensive ones with will have fatter profit margins. Matt Egan, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trade-off

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trade-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trade-off. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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