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
Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2025
But the returns free-for-all really took off with the advent of internet shopping as e-commerce companies jockeyed for shoppers’ eyeballs and their wallets.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025
The airline announced its plans to end its free-for-all seating arrangement last summer.
—Marnie Hunter, CNN Money, 21 July 2025
Frequent clashes between Mexican soccer fans and police on Pacific — especially a 1998 free-for-all that led to 31 arrests — prompted dispatches painting the place as an out-of-control Mexican colony.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for free-for-all
Noun
In his rail-splitting young-lawyer days, Lincoln is said to have gone 300–1 in free-for-all wrestling matches against tough guys across the Midwest.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2025
But the returns free-for-all really took off with the advent of internet shopping as e-commerce companies jockeyed for shoppers’ eyeballs and their wallets.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025
The airline announced its plans to end its free-for-all seating arrangement last summer.
—Marnie Hunter, CNN Money, 21 July 2025
Frequent clashes between Mexican soccer fans and police on Pacific — especially a 1998 free-for-all that led to 31 arrests — prompted dispatches painting the place as an out-of-control Mexican colony.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for free-for-all
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free-for-all
Adjective
-
Further surveys followed along with two public consultations attracting 60,000 people.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
And even in the approximately two dozen states where names are disclosed, winners are advised to avoid public scrutiny.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Setting aside the brewing shutdown brawl, allowing the subsidies to go by the way side could also be politically untenable for certain vulnerable Republicans and tee up voter backlash in next year’s midterms.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Inter Miami players Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Tomas Aviles, and Seattle Sounders staff member Steven Lenhart, received multiple game suspensions from the 2026 Leagues Cup as punishment for their behavior during a post-game brawl following Sunday’s Leagues Cup final.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In jumbles of old stones that, to me, are barely legible as the remains of buildings, Cocon López could see the entire timeline of old Aké and how later people interacted with and repurposed what came before.—
Lizzie Wade,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 May 2025
-
Baker also leads the orchestra, which sounds grand — although the sound in the arts center’s Pugh Theater often left musicians, lead singers and chorus all at the same level, with actors speaking over all of it at the same time to create a sonic jumble.—
Matthew J. Palm,
Orlando Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The layout also includes a separate bedroom and bathroom, while the open living room has room for a sofa, TV stand, bookcase, and more.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The 35-year-old Bohannon hopes to draw in audiences and artists who, like himself, may not come from a reggae background but are open to exploring new musical styles.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Behind it, a monsoon storm swept in, unleashing torrential rain, howling winds and lightning that knocked out power to thousands and caused havoc across the Valley.—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Defensively, coach Todd Bowles is emphasizing more big plays and counting on free-agent pass rusher Haason Reddick to create havoc.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Additionally, the university plans to close some of its 140 centers and institutes, aiming to reduce unrestricted funding by at least 20% in the coming years.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
-
But public access to The Cove remains unrestricted, and with few city regulations in place there, rangers have less ability to cite people who don’t stay away from the pinnipeds.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The cutbacks are the result of a clash over two budgets—the SEPTA budget and the Pennsylvania budget.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
An opening clash in Luxembourg is followed up by a bout against the four-time world champions in Cologne, as Michael O’Neill’s young team dreams of emulating the side that made it to the 1986 tournament in Mexico.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Bovino relies on Border Patrol SWAT-style teams to avoid the chaos that erupted during an hourslong standoff at a Home Depot in Paramount on June 7.—
Elliot Spagat,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
This project became both an ethnographic and photographic study of how women inhabit, resist, and reimagine their roles in a context denned by deep contradictions – beauty and chaos, devotion and repression, tradition and transformation.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Free-for-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free-for-all. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share