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
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Recent Examples of free-for-all
Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
While Democrats are likely to have a comfortable lead in the general election, the crowded primary, set for June 2026, is currently a free-for-all.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 Dec. 2025
Hostile powers, particularly Russia, are using this free-for-all to inject lies, designed to inflame antagonisms or simply muddy the waters, into the bloodstream of democracy.
—Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 Dec. 2025
Beckert tries to tame the sense of a conceptual free-for-all by partitioning the evolution of capitalism into periods of punctuated equilibrium.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for free-for-all
Noun
The testing of the limits of Grok devolved into a free-for-all as users asked it to create sexualized images of celebrities and others.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
While Democrats are likely to have a comfortable lead in the general election, the crowded primary, set for June 2026, is currently a free-for-all.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 Dec. 2025
Hostile powers, particularly Russia, are using this free-for-all to inject lies, designed to inflame antagonisms or simply muddy the waters, into the bloodstream of democracy.
—Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 Dec. 2025
Beckert tries to tame the sense of a conceptual free-for-all by partitioning the evolution of capitalism into periods of punctuated equilibrium.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for free-for-all
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free-for-all
Adjective
-
AutoFlight has unveiled Matrix, a five-ton electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, and completed a public full-transition flight at its low-altitude test center.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, democratic socialist Rae Huang is running against the mayor from her political left on public safety, housing and other issues, appearing at one point with podcaster Hasan Piker.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In a separate clip shared online, another brawl can be seen erupting in a hallway near some exit doors.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Knox, who committed to wrestle at Rutgers University, and his dad were initially charged with simple assault for purposely/knowingly causing bodily injury after a brawl broke out at Collingswood High School on February.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The result also spotlights conference championships’ awkward fit in the current system, particularly given the fact that conference expansion has led to jumbles atop each league’s standings.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
7 Dec. 2025
-
Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Starting last May, the Energy Department began issuing rolling 90-day orders for the plant to stay open.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Police have blocked the ATM lanes off with yellow crime scene tape, and multiple agencies, including Dallas police and Texas Rangers, can be seen searching the area around the open vestibules.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The weather was already causing havoc in the air — with about 1,000 flight disruptions at CLT airport — and on the ground, with State Highway Patrol handling over 175 wrecks so far.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Jan. 2026
-
In any case, the Chiefs’ self-evaluation this offseason is sure to focus on how the team can create more havoc — while also getting back to the production of past seasons when creating big plays was more the norm.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Stretchy side panels made movement and high-stepping across rocks feel natural and unrestricted.—
The Editors,
Outside,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Ellis, 26, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Terminal Heat Skipping airport chaos might be the most coveted luxury in travel.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The venue was hosting weigh-ins for the Saturday night fight headlined by Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez when the chaos kicked off.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The gates of hell are opened — and Maria (Sarah Sherman) is thrown out the window three times!—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Feb. 2026
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Denver author Josiah Hesse was raised by Evangelical parents in churches that believe in the torments of hell, that their poverty is due to their sinfulness and lack of faith.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Free-for-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free-for-all. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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