Free-for-all

The answer to “Free-for-all” in the New York Times crossword is MELEE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 11, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 7-Down, and it has also run on 1 earlier date with the same answer. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Free-for-all” answer

MELEE (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is MELEE.

What does MELEE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of MELEE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

When else has “Free-for-all” appeared?

New York Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

• October 11, 2026 (most recent) → MELEE
• August 26, 2026 → MELEE

Frequently asked questions