free-for-all
noun
: a competition, dispute, or fight open to all comers and usually with no rules : brawl
also
: a chaotic situation resembling a free-for-all especially in lacking rules or structure
the press conference deteriorated into a free-for-all
free-for-all
adjective
Synonyms
Examples of free-for-all in a Sentence
during the play-offs, fans of the opposing teams clashed in the streets in several free-for-alls
it was a free-for-all when the doors to the arena opened and the crowd rushed in all at once
Recent Examples on the Web
Coastal Alabamians have been recording jubilees since before the Civil War, and before modern fishing regulations came about, old-timers would eagerly await the shallow water free-for-all.
—
Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 13 June 2024
The result is a free-for-all inside routers and, to a lesser extent, VPN devices and virtual private servers provided by hosting companies.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 2 May 2024
Starting in September, the free-for-all whereby private carters roam the city to serve clients in a terribly inefficient manner will start giving way to a system of zones, where different swaths of the city are served by a limited set of dedicated providers.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2024
The annual open-access, theatrical free-for-all brings the performing arts to neighborhood theaters, parks, clubs, churches, restaurants and other unexpected places.
—Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for free-for-all 
Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 13 June 2024
The result is a free-for-all inside routers and, to a lesser extent, VPN devices and virtual private servers provided by hosting companies.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 2 May 2024
Starting in September, the free-for-all whereby private carters roam the city to serve clients in a terribly inefficient manner will start giving way to a system of zones, where different swaths of the city are served by a limited set of dedicated providers.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2024
The annual open-access, theatrical free-for-all brings the performing arts to neighborhood theaters, parks, clubs, churches, restaurants and other unexpected places.
—Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for free-for-all
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'free-for-all.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near free-for-all
Cite this Entry
“Free-for-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free-for-all. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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