all-or-nothing

adjective

Being or relating to a situation where a dichotomy (a binary state) pertains: either of two poles is instantiated, with no intermediate state (e.g., a mixture or syncretism) being possible or being permitted.

“Near-synonyms: black-and-white, dichotomous, all-or-none”

Similar
black-and-whitedichotomousall-or-nonecomplete
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Meanings

adjectiveall-or-nothing (not comparable)
  1. not comparableBeing or relating to a situation where a dichotomy (a binary state) pertains: either of two poles is instantiated, with no intermediate state (e.g., a mixture or syncretism) being possible or being permitted.

    Near-synonyms: black-and-white, dichotomous, all-or-none

    Synonyms: black-and-white, dichotomous, all-or-none

    1. not comparableBeing or relating to a project that will either succeed completely or fail completely.

      A crewed moonshot is an all-or-nothing affair: either they get to the moon and back alive, or they don't.

      Synonyms: black-and-white, dichotomous, all-or-none

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveBeing or relating to a situation where a dichotomy (a binary state) pertains: either of two poles is instantiated, with no intermediate state (e.g., a mixture or syncretism) being possible or being permitted.

Similar
black-and-whitedichotomousall-or-none

adjectiveBeing or relating to a project that will either succeed completely or fail completely.

Similar
black-and-whitedichotomousall-or-none

More synonyms by meaning

adjectiveoccurring completely or not occurring at all

Similar
all-or-nonecomplete
Also see
all-or-nonecomplete

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Dutch hollen of stilstaan
  • hollen of stilstaanTranslations
Finnish syteen tai saveen, kaikki tai ei mitään
  • syteen tai saveenTranslations
  • kaikki tai ei mitäänTranslations
French tout ou rien, quitte ou double
  • tout ou rienTranslations
  • quitte ou doubleTranslations
  • ça passe ou ça casseTranslations
German alles oder nichts
  • alles oder nichtsTranslations
Greek όλα ή τίποτα
  • όλα ή τίποτα (óla í típota)Translations
Italian tutto o niente
  • tutto o nienteTranslations
Latin aut caesar aut nihil
  • aut caesar aut nihilTranslations
Polish bezkompromisowy
  • bezkompromisowyTranslations
Portuguese tudo ou nada, ou oito, ou oitenta
  • tudo ou nadaTranslations
  • ou oito, ou oitentaTranslations
Romanian totul sau nimic
  • totul sau nimicTranslations
Russian пан или пропал, грудь в крестах или голова в кустах
  • пан или пропал (pan ili propal)Translations
  • грудь в крестах или голова в кустах (grudʹ v krestax ili golova v kustax)Translations
Spanish todo o nada
  • todo o nadaTranslations
Turkish ya hep ya hiç
  • ya hep ya hiçTranslations
Ukrainian пан або́ пропа́в
  • пан або́ пропа́в (pan abó propáv)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

all-or-nothing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/all-or-nothing

MLA

“all-or-nothing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/all-or-nothing. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “all-or-nothing,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/all-or-nothing.

Source: all-or-nothing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.