no-holds-barred

adjective

Definition of no-holds-barrednext
as in comprehensive
free from the usual limits or rules a no-holds-barred interview with the senator a no-holds-barred contest

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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 no-holds-barred But the seething energy shared between the various women in the film reaches operatic fever pitch, Close going no-holds-barred with Day and a combative Mo’Nique as a semi-sympathetic social worker. — Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 4 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for no-holds-barred
  1. comprehensive
  2. thorough
  3. complete
Adjective
  • Today, some are convincing enough to fool experts, helped along by a market where documentation is scarce and comprehensive catalogs and archives are rare.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Receive a comprehensive breakdown of talent showcasing this year by signing up for our Comedy Means Business newsletter at this link.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of comprehensive
Adjective
  • Don’t worry about leaking or popping because this water mat is constructed with thick PVC that has undergone thorough testing.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In late 2016, for example, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology issued the first thorough, unclassified warning about the potential national security risks posed by biotechnology.
    — Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of thorough
Adjective
  • Craig said construction of the first stage of the Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan was 84% complete.
    — Tim Treadgold, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But a complete turnover on defense, coupled with nonconference games at Georgia Tech and Northwestern, will lead to another losing season, after which both sides move in different directions.
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of complete

Browse Nearby Words

no-goods
no-holds-barred
noise
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Cite this Entry

“No-holds-barred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/no-holds-barred. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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