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
But with Quirk-Silva prevented from running again in 2026 due to term limits, the race has become a free-for-all, especially on the Democratic side, where candidates are expected to spend heavily to stand out in what’s likely to become a crowded primary.
—
Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 13 May 2025
The federal government stepped into this free-for-all to regulate it, says Edward Berkowitz, emeritus professor of history at George Washington University.
—Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 13 May 2025
Stronger Plants Will Muscle Out Weaker Plants In a free-for-all chaos garden, only the strongest plants will survive.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025
But the texting and blocking, the free-for-all backwaters of the internet and the carnal shenanigans that color contemporary TV teendom do put a different complexion on growing up.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for free-for-all
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.
Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 13 May 2025
The federal government stepped into this free-for-all to regulate it, says Edward Berkowitz, emeritus professor of history at George Washington University.
—Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 13 May 2025
Stronger Plants Will Muscle Out Weaker Plants In a free-for-all chaos garden, only the strongest plants will survive.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025
But the texting and blocking, the free-for-all backwaters of the internet and the carnal shenanigans that color contemporary TV teendom do put a different complexion on growing up.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 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 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share