as in public
freely available for use or participation by all
the public library has a free-for-all lending policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
And even then, the open seat would likely spark a larger free-for-all among ambitious Democrats — and Republicans — for the seat.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Matthew Stafford is cementing his status as the NFL’s all-time leading earner, even as millions of fresh dollars are circulating among players in this most recent free agent free-for-all.
—Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Now that looks more like a free-for-all.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for free-for-all
Noun
What This Looks Like on a Regular Tuesday The butter mom philosophy is not a free-for-all.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
And even then, the open seat would likely spark a larger free-for-all among ambitious Democrats — and Republicans — for the seat.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Matthew Stafford is cementing his status as the NFL’s all-time leading earner, even as millions of fresh dollars are circulating among players in this most recent free agent free-for-all.
—Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Now that looks more like a free-for-all.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for free-for-all
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free-for-all
Adjective
-
There’s a new kind of public-land group gaining momentum out West, and this one is wading unapologetically into the political arena.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Another important note to make is that Lupaia is closed during the winter season for improvements to the rooms, garden, public area, and overall guest experience since the weather is too unpredictable to welcome guests during that time anyway.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Their rivalry reached its peak in 2018, when the two engaged in an on-court brawl during a matchup between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Abbott, Patrick brawl over complete ban The debate over a complete ban on THC was one of the most high-profile issues in the Texas Legislature's regular session last year.—
Steven Rosenbaum,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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
Adjective
-
The challenge is not to retreat from circulation, but to insist that circulation be thought through, grounded in specific places and their conditions, and accountable, open to friction, contamination, and transformation rather than insulated coherence.—
Manuela Moscoso,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Working low to high, causing havoc on the forecheck, getting pucks back.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Wild extremes of temperature, a heat dome, a potent bomb cyclone blizzard, epic rainfalls and violent tornadoes have wreaked weather havoc across the nation.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Each fellowship is accompanied by a $75,000 unrestricted grant.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Assuming there will be a cap on the amount of unrestricted free agents a team can select, the Fire and Tempo will be looking for players in the bargain bins.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The hackers never demanded a ransom, suggesting they were motivated by destruction and chaos, not profit.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Cool weather and wind gusts settled over lines resembling a maze both inside and outside the airport, creating confusion and chaos.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Brash, confident, possibly irreverent, and out there, looking to make life hell for everyone who played San Francisco.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
But Mike Johnson, leader of the House of Representatives, said hell no to what his Republicans in the Senate said yes to.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Free-for-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free-for-all. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
