Definitions

all-or-nothing

[awl-er-nuhth-ing] / ˈɔl ərˈnʌθ ɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

accepting no less than everything

Synonyms

STRONGEST

hard-line inflexible uncompromising unyielding

WEAK

adamant firm unbending

Antonyms

STRONGEST

flexible willing yielding

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rather than having an all-or-nothing change in beneficiaries, it’s wiser to have a more balanced approach, one that you and your husband can review every year, or so.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

He kept the U.S. out of any major war and developed a nuclear strategy that evolved from “massive retaliation” to a policy that recognized how an all-or-nothing approach to thermonuclear weapons would be too dangerous.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

But the United States is deploying a blunt, all-or-nothing approach.

From Slate • Feb. 13, 2026

“That’s a tough situation for him to come in, especially someone like him, right? It’s really like an all-or-nothing thing, so to see him get out of that inning, it was just super cool.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2025

And the process was an all-or-nothing one; either you failed to modify at all, or else you modified the whole way.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley