all-or-nothing

adjective

all-or-noth·​ing
ˌȯl-ər-ˈnə-thiŋ
1
: all-or-none
2
a
: accepting no less than everything
he's an all-or-nothing perfectionist
b
: risking everything
an all-or-nothing combat strategy

Examples of all-or-nothing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Tips to Decrease Soda Without Feeling Deprived Reducing soda intake does not have to be all-or-nothing. — Brittany Poulson, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2026 Celebrity guests accompany the contestants, ideally helping and not hindering them, to an all-or-nothing final, where one test decides everything, including the true identity of the player. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 Superconductivity is supposed to be an all-or-nothing quantum state. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026 The all-or-nothing nature of sports gets muddled with asterisks and different permutations. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for all-or-nothing

Word History

First Known Use

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of all-or-nothing was in 1764

Rhymes for all-or-nothing

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Browse Nearby Words

all-or-none
all-or-nothing
allosaur
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Cite this Entry

“All-or-nothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all-or-nothing. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

all-or-nothing

adjective
all-or-noth·​ing -ˈnəth-iŋ How to pronounce all-or-nothing (audio)
: all-or-none
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