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.
A little bit of the all-or-nothing from him. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026 Those are stark all-or-nothing stakes, but ones that Cenko can accept. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 26 June 2026 Nadler does not see the competition as an all-or-nothing battle. — Elizabeth MacBride, CNBC, 19 May 2026 Yet there is a way through, provided the parties resist the allure of the all-or-nothing bargain. — Ali Vaez, Time, 15 June 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

See All Rhymes for all-or-nothing

Browse Nearby Words

all-or-none
all-or-nothing
allosaur
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“All-or-nothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all-or-nothing. Accessed 7 Jul. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on all-or-nothing

Nglish: Translation of all-or-nothing for Spanish Speakers

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