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
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
Activists must share some of the blame for their self-defeating stigmatization of existing regulatory bodies, knowing well that the alternative could be free-for-all tragedy of the commons.
—
Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Expectations Are High: The year could turn into a free-for-all, with many teams and drivers expected to challenge for the titles.
—Ian Parkes, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Entrenched bureaucrats and political interests in Washington, D.C., and Springfield went on a spending free-for-all, and the bill is finally coming due.
—Chris Miller, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
That lo-fi style is part of what made Minecraft a global sensation, along with a customizable environment that turned a sandbox game into a DIY free-for-all.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for free-for-all
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Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Expectations Are High: The year could turn into a free-for-all, with many teams and drivers expected to challenge for the titles.
—Ian Parkes, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Entrenched bureaucrats and political interests in Washington, D.C., and Springfield went on a spending free-for-all, and the bill is finally coming due.
—Chris Miller, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
That lo-fi style is part of what made Minecraft a global sensation, along with a customizable environment that turned a sandbox game into a DIY free-for-all.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 2 May. 2025.
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