as in public
freely available for use or participation by all
the public library has a free-for-all lending policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
during the play-offs, fans of the opposing teams clashed in the streets in several free-for-alls
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in jumble
a state in which everything is out of order
it was a free-for-all when the doors to the arena opened and the crowd rushed in all at once
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 free-for-all
The Editors, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026
Founded in February 2021 by Tehranian and Matthew Vernon, Foundation distinguished itself from free-for-all marketplaces like OpenSea through an invite-only model aimed at digital artists and serious collectors.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026
All of this has led some bettors to view prediction markets as an insider trading free-for-all.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Other Brands Are Joining in on the Fun The brand’s Instagram comments section turned into a free-for-all after the announcement.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for free-for-all
Noun
Every Friday night from May to November, the Legendary Cyphers crew hosts a hip-hop free-for-all in Union Square Park with rappers of all skill levels taking turns freestyling over a communal beat.
—The Editors, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026
Founded in February 2021 by Tehranian and Matthew Vernon, Foundation distinguished itself from free-for-all marketplaces like OpenSea through an invite-only model aimed at digital artists and serious collectors.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026
All of this has led some bettors to view prediction markets as an insider trading free-for-all.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Other Brands Are Joining in on the Fun The brand’s Instagram comments section turned into a free-for-all after the announcement.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for free-for-all
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free-for-all
Adjective
-
Cost of living, public safety and border security are hurting working families.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
In California, the effects of the breach rippled across the state’s largest public and private institutions within hours Thursday.—
Jaweed Kaleem,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Naz Reid nearly escalated the exchange into a brawl, but the parties were ultimately separated enough to avoid ejections.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
-
Guns are loaded, a brawl breaks out in a bar and Rip rides away from a fire on horseback.—
Brayden Garcia
May 1,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Rescuers found the son trapped with his dead dad’s body after forcing open their apartment door, Singh said.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
Their hounding defense and Johnson’s decision to aggressively trap Anthony Edwards blew the game wide open, as the Spurs let the Wolves take open 3s, and Minnesota missed almost all of them.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
While ground covers can boost the health and aesthetics of your yard, some varieties can wreak havoc on nearby plants, trees, and soil.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
1 May 2026
-
The other problem is this AI locomotive coming down the tracks, which is going to wreak havoc for workers.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Dosunmu, an unrestricted free agent, now has a playoff stage to showcase his talent and cash in this summer.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
Vucevic is the Celtics’ only impending unrestricted free agent.—
Zack Cox,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Leo’s January 9 address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See focused on global chaos the Vatican saw as American-made.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
-
After all, the film is a straightforward parable about the attempt to reassert authority amid chaos.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
This autumn, though, the feminist alt-rock icons are finally giving us one hell of a sonic supernova.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But, this specific adaptation could be equally advantaged by presenting an imagined hell within our lesser, present one.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Free-for-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free-for-all. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
