deal 1 of 3

noun (1)

Definition of dealnext
as in ton
a considerable amount there is a great deal of waste in government

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deal

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
as in agreement
an arrangement about action to be taken we made a deal to cooperate on the next assignment

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2
as in sale
the transfer of ownership of something from one person to another for a price we closed the deal for the house last week

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3
as in contract
a formal agreement to fulfill an obligation if the other party backs out of the deal after it's signed, you can sue

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4
as in situation
position with regard to conditions and circumstances we don't yet know what the deal is with the new manager

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5
as in bargain
something bought or offered for sale at a desirable price that mail-order sweater isn't such a great deal after you factor in the cost of shipping and handling

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deal

3 of 3

verb

ˈdēl How to pronounce deal (audio)
1
as in to trade
to carry on the business of buying and selling goods or other property that store deals in used furniture

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to negotiate
to talk over or dispute the terms of a purchase you're going to have to learn how to deal if you want to buy a car at a fair price

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deal are dispense, distribute, divide, and dole out. While all these words mean "to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group," deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece.

deal out equipment and supplies

When could dispense be used to replace deal?

In some situations, the words dispense and deal are roughly equivalent. However, dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need.

dispensed wisdom to the students

When is distribute a more appropriate choice than deal?

Although the words distribute and deal have much in common, distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts.

distributed food to the needy

When can divide be used instead of deal?

The words divide and deal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal.

three charitable groups divided the proceeds

When is it sensible to use dole out instead of deal?

The synonyms dole out and deal are sometimes interchangeable, but dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply.

doled out what little food there was

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 deal
Noun
Hamas on Friday agreed to release Alexander along with the bodies of four other hostages following a deal offered by mediators. —Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025 In the case a deal is not reached, Bondi may also decide to not enforce the law. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
However, if the season slips away the Blue Jays could be willing to deal Guerrero to the Giants for a mix of prospects and MLB talent. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025 March has already dealt a slew of potent storms and tallied up more tornado reports than as of the same time last year. —Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deal
  1. trade
  2. negotiate
  3. sell
  4. bargain
Verb
  • Fans have not forgiven him for trading a global superstar in the prime of his career.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Fanatics, which is not publicly traded and therefore does not share data as freely as some of these other organizations, does the bulk of its sales in the U.S.
    — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of trade
Verb
  • His special envoy to Ukraine set a goal of negotiating an agreement even quicker during the first 100 days of Trump's term.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, negotiates trade deals on behalf of all 27 member states.
    — Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of negotiate
Verb
  • Dolce Vita opened its first Florida store at Aventura in November selling trending footwear.
    — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Donald Trump makes 'one-of-a-find' agreement with his new neighbors A home near President 's Mar-a-Lago estate has sold for $14 million—complete with a rare privilege: guest access to the former president's private club.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of sell
Verb
  • The association contends these actions violate state rules requiring public employers to bargain over such matters, infringing on deputies’ rights and the union’s ability to represent them.
    — Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The proposals were aimed at protecting government employees’ ability to collectively bargain amid attacks by the Trump administration, preventing cuts to food stamps and to show support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Ukraine, respectively.
    — Al Weaver, The Hill, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of bargain

Phrases Containing deal

Browse Nearby Words

deaf to reason
deal
dealer
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Cite this Entry

“Deal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deal. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deal

Nglish: Translation of deal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about deal

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