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
Recent Examples on the Web
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
Captain William Kidd, the Scottish privateer sent on a mission in September 1696 to hunt down and destroy pirates, instead joined the free-for-all by seizing the Quedagh Merchant.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Even now, after the city has clamped down on the free-for-all, with a new show of force by the Los Angeles Police Department and some modest cleanup efforts since the end of February, a few artists are still getting onsite and leaving more graffiti on the buildings.
—Steve Appleford, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
Moreno defeated two high-profile candidates in the GOP primary, which was widely seen as a free-for-all before Trump got involved on behalf of Moreno.
—Rick Klein, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024
The free-for-all is widely expected to drive commissions down and force many agents out of business.
—Rachel Lerman, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
Once that fasten seatbelt sign turns off, the aisles can become a free-for-all where passengers try to beat fellow fliers to unload their own luggage from the overhead bins.
—Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
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
Captain William Kidd, the Scottish privateer sent on a mission in September 1696 to hunt down and destroy pirates, instead joined the free-for-all by seizing the Quedagh Merchant.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Even now, after the city has clamped down on the free-for-all, with a new show of force by the Los Angeles Police Department and some modest cleanup efforts since the end of February, a few artists are still getting onsite and leaving more graffiti on the buildings.
—Steve Appleford, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
Moreno defeated two high-profile candidates in the GOP primary, which was widely seen as a free-for-all before Trump got involved on behalf of Moreno.
—Rick Klein, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024
The free-for-all is widely expected to drive commissions down and force many agents out of business.
—Rachel Lerman, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
Once that fasten seatbelt sign turns off, the aisles can become a free-for-all where passengers try to beat fellow fliers to unload their own luggage from the overhead bins.
—Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 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 25 Apr. 2024.
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