free-for-all 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of free-for-allnext
as in public
freely available for use or participation by all the public library has a free-for-all lending policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

free-for-all

2 of 2

noun

ˈfrē-fə-ˌrȯl How to pronounce free-for-all (audio)
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

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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

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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
Noun
Wyoming has a single House seat, and the race to replace Hageman has turned into a bit of a free-for-all. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 But along with Dodd’s stewardship of AAU came criticism that the fast-growing organization was becoming a free-for-all. — Molly Hensley-Clancy, ProPublica, 13 Aug. 2026 Such a scenario would reward first-movers with market dominance, creating a global free-for-all as developers push boundaries. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026 The change set off a free-for-all this time around, as a dozen states bid for the chance to vote first. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for free-for-all
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free-for-all
  1. public
  2. brawl
  3. jumble
  4. open
  5. havoc
  6. unrestricted
  7. chaos
  8. hell
Adjective
  • Protests last week devolved into mayhem, with people setting fires, storming public buildings, smashing shop windows, looting and clashing with police.
    — ELITSA GADEVA, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In June, the district attorney’s office filed public nuisance lawsuits intended to shut down two motels, Super 7 Inn and Delux Inn, on South Freeway in Fort Worth that are beset by crime.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of public
Noun
  • If Republicans lose big next month, there’ll be a brawl to assign blame — which consultants blew it, which ads wasted money, which issues didn’t work.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • There are brawls over policy that lead to lawsuits, but the main drama is the 2023 school board election, where the Democrats hoped to reverse the Republicans’ 6-3 majority.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of brawl
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
Definition of jumble
Adjective
  • For the tinkering types, Meta also released open weights for Muse’s code to help people connect it to a range of other devices.
    — Marty Swant, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Contrary to preelection expectations by observers for a double-digit difference in favor of Yotova, her opponent showed a surprisingly strong performance, leaving all options open for the runoff.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of open
Noun
  • Lignel began conversations with the gallery in 2008 as a recession wrought havoc upon the New York art market and the global economy.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Lucas Calderon, owner of Holy Crab, a Coral Gables seafood business that specializes in stone crab home delivery, recalls the havoc Milton wrought on the industry.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of havoc
Adjective
  • In the mid-2000s, then-President Hugo Chávez set out to tally reserves in the Orinoco Belt, amid increasing global oil prices and virtually unrestricted government spending.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Irving has a player-option on his contract for the 2027-28 season, and will be unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2028.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of unrestricted
Noun
  • Rather than chasing fancy titles or splashy paychecks throughout her career, she’s gravitated toward jobs that pushed her out of her comfort zone, forced her to take risks, and taught her to embrace a little chaos.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Continue reading ⦠WAKE-UP CALL â France's riot chaos fuels warning that mass immigration failures could haunt another country.
    — , FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of chaos
Noun
  • The careerist has also made life hell for Erika and her family.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Time is running out for a Republican Party led astray by a president whose treacherous behavior mimics those assigned to the lowest level of Dante’s hell.
    — Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of hell

Browse Nearby Words

free-floating
free-for-all
free-for-alls
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Cite this Entry

“Free-for-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free-for-all. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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