sinkhole

noun

sink·​hole ˈsiŋk-ˌhōl How to pronounce sinkhole (audio)
Synonyms of sinkholenext
1
: a hollow place or depression in which drainage collects
2
: a hollow in a limestone region that communicates with a cavern or passage
3
4
: something (such as an unprofitable investment) that steadily drains money or resources
a financial sinkhole

Examples of sinkhole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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SkyEye was up over Falmouth, Massachusetts Tuesday, to capture the moment when a treasured yellow lab named Tessie was rescued from a deep backyard sinkhole. Juli McDonald, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026 Why Isolated Caves Make Evolution Visible Karst landscapes — porous limestone terrain riddled with caves, sinkholes, and underground rivers — make up 9% of Cambodia. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026 Each hill and cave in Cambodia’s rocky karst landscape –– a term for a landscape created when rocks break down, forming large cave springs, sinking streams and sinkholes –– is isolated from the others. Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026 Ripley also offers a combo ticket that includes the golf plus the nearby Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum (the sinkhole building) and the adjacent Ripley Mirror Maze attraction. Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sinkhole

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sinkhole was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Sinkhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sinkhole. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

sinkhole

noun
sink·​hole ˈsiŋk-ˌhōl How to pronounce sinkhole (audio)
: a hollow place in which drainage collects

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