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

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
  • 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
  • For the tinkering types, Meta also released open weights for Muse’s code to help people connect it to a range of other devices.
    — Marty Swant, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Contrary to preelection expectations by observers for a double-digit difference in favor of Yotova, her opponent showed a surprisingly strong performance, leaving all options open for the runoff.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of open
Noun
  • The Heat’s defense created havoc, forcing the Hawks into 15 turnovers.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Amid the havoc, the children flee into an enclosure, their teacher slamming the door from the outside.
    — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of havoc
Adjective
  • In the mid-2000s, then-President Hugo Chávez set out to tally reserves in the Orinoco Belt, amid increasing global oil prices and virtually unrestricted government spending.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Irving has a player-option on his contract for the 2027-28 season, and will be unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2028.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 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
  • The careerist has also made life hell for Erika and her family.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Time is running out for a Republican Party led astray by a president whose treacherous behavior mimics those assigned to the lowest level of Dante’s hell.
    — Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 22 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 31 Oct. 2026.

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