all-or-nothing
Complete or none
All-or-nothing describes situations where only complete success or total failure are possible, with no middle ground: It's an all-or-nothing gamble.
The phrase often characterizes approaches that reject compromise or partial measures: She took an all-or-nothing stance in the negotiations.
In betting or contests, all-or-nothing means the entire stake rides on a single outcome.
Possibility of harm
- betRisked stake on outcome
- wagerStake on uncertainty
- high-stakesInvolving significant consequences
- jackpotAccumulated gambling prize
odds · chance · speculation · gambit · make-or-break · do-or-die · plunge · moonshot
Total, without qualification
- totalComplete sum
- completeLacking nothing, fully done
- either-orPresenting two alternatives
- black-and-whiteWithout color gradations
zero-sum · pass-fail · decisive · definitive · categorical · unequivocal · polarized · dichotomous
Severe and far-reaching
- radicalRoot-indicating symbol
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- severeExtremely harsh or strict
- rigidUnable to bend
unyielding · absolutist · hardline · maximalist · extreme · unrelenting · inflexible · intransigent
Fully and sincerely committed
- unconditionalWithout limits or qualifications
- undividedNot separated into parts
- unreservedNot held back
- unwaveringSteady and unchanging
steadfast · uncompromising · resolute · devoted · single-minded · obsessive · fanatical · consumed
risk
Possibility of harm
- betRisked stake on outcome
- wagerStake on uncertainty
- high-stakesInvolving significant consequences
jackpot · odds · chance · speculation · gambit · make-or-break · do-or-die · plunge · moonshot · lottery
absolute
Total, without qualification
black-and-white · zero-sum · pass-fail · decisive · definitive · categorical · unequivocal · polarized · dichotomous · ultimatum
drastic
Severe and far-reaching
- radicalRoot-indicating symbol
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- severeExtremely harsh or strict
rigid · unyielding · absolutist · hardline · maximalist · extreme · unrelenting · inflexible · intransigent · perfectionist
wholehearted
Fully and sincerely committed
- unconditionalWithout limits or qualifications
- undividedNot separated into parts
- unreservedNot held back
unwavering · steadfast · uncompromising · resolute · devoted · single-minded · obsessive · fanatical · consumed · invested
- all-all-star, all-out, all-in, all-time, all-clear
- closed-mindednessclosed-mindedness, close-mindedness, narrow-mindedness, inflexibility, rigidity
- crowdfundingbacker, backers, campaign, contribution, contributor
- false dilemmasfalse dilemma, false dichotomy, false choice, black-and-white thinking, binary thinking
- thought patternsrumination, overthinking, catastrophizing, overgeneralization, magical thinking
- thought trapscatastrophizing, overgeneralization, mind reading, fortune telling, personalization
all-or-nothingincremental
Proceeding by small additions
gradual · step-by-step · piecemeal · partial · bit-by-bit
all-or-nothinghedged
Avoided definite commitment
cautious · conservative · risk-averse · diversified · safe