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

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

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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
  • 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
  • By the way, what’s also changed is that a lot of markets that were open to China — the US, Turkey, Japan — have taken protectionist measures.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Current listings include a $25 seat outside Nashville and 19 open seats at $70 each at a Las Vegas wedding next month.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 20 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
  • Heading into the 2027 offseason, with many of the league’s stars locked into long-term contracts, four unrestricted free agents could meaningfully change teams’ fortunes.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The new cohort joins 20 previously awarded fellows who have received close to $700,000 in unrestricted funding since 2021, when Inevitable Foundation was founded.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 14 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 band hovers in a razor-thin lacuna between heaven and hell, between ascension and purgatory, on the verge of going either way.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Searching for Wendy in the depths of the Sephora store, Stan watches his surroundings shift from slightly off, to off, to get-me-the-hell-out-of-here off.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 15 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 26 Oct. 2026.

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