1
as in aperture
a place in a surface allowing passage into or through a thing
line up the pegs on section A with the holes in section B and press the two together
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pit
a sunken area forming a separate space
dig a hole big enough to plant the tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in predicament
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
Bill dug himself into a hole by promising to be in two places at the same time
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in dump
a dirty or messy place
when people see my room, they often ask, "How can you live in this hole?"
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
found a hole in the chain-link fence big enough to squeeze through
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
7
as in void
an incomplete or deficient area
there's a huge hole in your logic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to drill
to make a hole or series of holes in
holed the target with a round of shots
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hole
Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2025
These small black beetles chew holes in leaves and stunt the plants.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 3 Jan. 2025
There’s the usual Olsen twin obsession and extremely low-calorie diet plans circulating on the platform, but that content has traditionally been holed away from the generic TikTok user.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hole
Noun
Districts across the Bay Area face budget deficits ranging from $20 million to $113 million and have turned to school closures and layoffs to plug holes.
—Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2025
These small black beetles chew holes in leaves and stunt the plants.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
One photo showed the couple holing mugs proclaiming the best parents ever, and the last slide needed an explanation.
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 3 Jan. 2025
There’s the usual Olsen twin obsession and extremely low-calorie diet plans circulating on the platform, but that content has traditionally been holed away from the generic TikTok user.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hole
Noun
-
The alleged suspension of information operations aimed at Russia and growing mistrust between the United States and its European allies open wide the aperture for foreign information and influence warfare.—
Michael Miklaucic,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2025
-
The watch is presented in 18-karat white gold, with the winding crown positioned on the left side of the case and the date aperture at 9 o’clock.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Surrounded by the red rock landscape the region is famous for, the property also has a pool, hot tub and community fire pits. Follow me on Twitter.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Regan Smith gets only Cup win On May 7, 2011, Regan Smith — now a pit reporter for NASCAR on FOX — won the only race of his Cup Series career, defeating newly-inducted Hall of Famer Carl Edwards by 0.196 seconds in the Southern 500.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, Luton are only four points behind Stoke City, yet another top-flight old boy, in 18th place, so there is a path out of this predicament.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2025
-
The predicament got even worse the following day, when Perez’s RB16 stopped on the formation lap and he was forced to start from the pit-lane.—
Dan Cancian,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Just four years later, Howard found himself being traded away in a salary dump.—
Tim Bontemps,
chicagotribune.com,
21 June 2017
-
New York City is gradually transforming its largest trash dump, Fresh Kills on Staten Island, into a vast expanse of parkland and restored natural areas.—
Andres Viglucci,
miamiherald,
15 June 2017
Noun
-
The budget also kicks the proverbial can down the road with respect to certain costs, most notably leading to an apparent $18 billion gap in 2029.—
Eric J. Gertler,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Wiegman wants to have a balanced team for the summer but the midfield is a gap that is yet to be addressed.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The two adult falcons using the nest box have been identified by the Midwest Peregrine Society as the same pair who used it last year, a 12-year-old female and a 16-year-old male.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
1 Apr. 2025
-
The nest overlooks Big Bear Lake, which is about a 95-mile drive northeast from Los Angeles.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Mom-and-pop bagel shops such as Moe’s in Aventura do their best to fill the void.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
-
New free services and communities have cropped up to fill the void, including Travel Ladies, an app that caters to solo female adventurers.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
For the study, the researchers drilled two-gram samples out of the inner walls of two vessel fragments excavated by Schliemann.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
1 Apr. 2025
-
The rover drilled the Cumberland sample from an area within a crater called Yellowknife Bay, which resembled an ancient lake bed.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hole. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share