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

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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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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
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
  • Harmless stories, dangerous behavior Some datasets explored seemingly ordinary subjects, including beekeeping, professional wrestling, and historical public-health cases.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Like Blonde on Blonde, Drukqs was the prolonged exhalation that closed its maker’s years as a celebrity at the vanguard of a genre and inaugurated a long period of reflection and tinkering away from the light of public expectation.
    — Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of public
Noun
  • Valkyria got back into the match fairly quickly and the brawl was on.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The brawl was captured on cellphone video and shared among neighbors.
    — Amy Corral, CBS News, 26 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
  • Charlotte won the rebound battle 51 to 44, but left the Pistons open way too often and were sloppy with the ball, committing 25 turnovers.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Residents were also advised to install window screens and chimney caps, secure exterior doors and avoid leaving unscreened windows open, particularly while sleeping.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of open
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the war has wreaked global havoc with no end in sight.
    — S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026
  • In December 2004 such a wave swept over Earth, causing some havoc.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of havoc
Adjective
  • This mandated that at least 10% of locally generated, unrestricted revenue be allocated to incarceration alternatives.
    — Times staff, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Alexander Goldberg, a district spokesperson, said Measure M is not intended to redirect existing unrestricted general fund money that SCUSD spends on special education.
    — Chaewon Chung October 29, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of unrestricted
Noun
  • The chaos was a fitting end to one of the ugliest elections in recent years, said Paulo César de Oliveira in Correio da Manhã (Rio de Janeiro).
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 31 Oct. 2026
  • The judge also raised concerns the effort would disenfranchise eligible voters and create election chaos.
    — Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of chaos
Noun
  • His second, a collaboration with the Times puzzle editor Tracy Bennett, was a hefty Sunday puzzle rife with just-for-the-hell-of-it wordplay.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2026
  • But hell hath no fury like a Latino voter scorned and all this intimidation, in addition to a lack of follow-through on promises by Republican lawmakers since 2024, might have a boomerang effect by agitating Latinos into action.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 30 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 7 Nov. 2026.

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