free-for-all
noun
: a competition, dispute, or fight open to all comers and usually with no rules : brawl
also
: a chaotic situation resembling a free-for-all especially in lacking rules or structure
the press conference deteriorated into a free-for-all
free-for-all
adjective
Synonyms
Examples of free-for-all in a Sentence
during the play-offs, fans of the opposing teams clashed in the streets in several free-for-alls
it was a free-for-all when the doors to the arena opened and the crowd rushed in all at once
Recent Examples on the Web
The annual open-access, theatrical free-for-all brings the performing arts to neighborhood theaters, parks, clubs, churches, restaurants and other unexpected places.
—
Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
Sudanese have been stunned by the destruction, but neither side looks capable of victory, and the war is metastasizing into a devastating free-for-all.
—Declan Walsh Ivor Prickett, New York Times, 5 June 2024
Advertisement Politics For subscribers How San Diego went from street vendor ‘free-for-all’ to controversial beach yoga crackdown
May 25, 2024
When city officials analyzed which vendors were eligible for free speech protections this winter, yoga and other fitness classes didn’t make the cut.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2024
In New York’s earliest days, the streets were a free-for-all.
—New York Times, 13 May 2024
Plus, prior to their bit, chief marketing officer Marian Lee announced that there would be no free-for-all on branding.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024
So to prevent free-for-all chaos in following years, Dearborn Music devised its wish list protocol to keep avid vinyl fans in a neat, orderly and organized line.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024
In a free-for-all traffic environment, drivers alerted pedestrians and other vehicle operators by using the horn incessantly.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
In what was supposed to be a free-for-all in this new age of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness deals, UConn has figured out how to dominate.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
Sudanese have been stunned by the destruction, but neither side looks capable of victory, and the war is metastasizing into a devastating free-for-all.
—Declan Walsh Ivor Prickett, New York Times, 5 June 2024
Advertisement Politics For subscribers How San Diego went from street vendor ‘free-for-all’ to controversial beach yoga crackdown
May 25, 2024
When city officials analyzed which vendors were eligible for free speech protections this winter, yoga and other fitness classes didn’t make the cut.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2024
In New York’s earliest days, the streets were a free-for-all.
—New York Times, 13 May 2024
Plus, prior to their bit, chief marketing officer Marian Lee announced that there would be no free-for-all on branding.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024
So to prevent free-for-all chaos in following years, Dearborn Music devised its wish list protocol to keep avid vinyl fans in a neat, orderly and organized line.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024
In a free-for-all traffic environment, drivers alerted pedestrians and other vehicle operators by using the horn incessantly.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
In what was supposed to be a free-for-all in this new age of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness deals, UConn has figured out how to dominate.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'free-for-all.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near free-for-all
Cite this Entry
“Free-for-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free-for-all. Accessed 15 Jun. 2024.
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