"Winner-take-all" essentially describes a situation where only one person or group emerges victorious while others are left empty-handed. Several synonyms exist for this term, including the phrase "all-or-nothing," which similarly describes a high-stakes situation that hinges entirely upon one successful outcome. "Zero-sum" is another synonym, which implies that there is an equal amount of gain and loss involved in a given situation, meaning that if one person wins, someone else must automatically lose. "Decisive" and "definitive" are additional synonyms that speak to the finality and importance of a winning outcome in any given situation. Ultimately, whether in sports, politics, or business, winning often comes down to "winner-take-all" scenarios with high stakes and big rewards.