1
as in apertures
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pits
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 predicaments
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 dumps
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 gaps
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
as in drills
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
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Recent Examples of holes
ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
These small black beetles chew holes in leaves and stunt the plants.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
Using a shovel or just your hands, dig holes large enough for the plugs and their root systems—about 2-4 inches deep.
—Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano, The Spruce, 5 Apr. 2026
The shooting appeared to have taken place near a business, and bullet holes were seen in a nearby window.
—Dylan Olsen, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Once soil health improves, many gardeners find that digging individual planting holes is sufficient for establishing crops.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Inline drip looks like long, narrow hoses with holes every six or 12 inches.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Make no mistake, as healthy top-to-bottom as Denver is, there are still a few notable holes on this roster.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Noel Cymone Walker, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2026
The penetration holes indicate that the internal facility is likely bombed out, destroying anything that was inside.
—CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
How to Limit Attraction Sealing unwanted tiny cracks, gaps in doors or windows, or utility lines, and holes around the home is one of the best ways to prevent ants from gaining access in the first place.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 11 Mar. 2026
But some backpacks are better for travel than others, perhaps designed with isolated shoe compartments, holes to feed your phone charging cable through, jewelry pouches, and special materials that simply wipe clean after picking up germs from public floors.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
The San Francisco 49ers head into free agency with roughly $38 million in salary-cap space — 11th most in the NFL — and holes all over their roster.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
There are plenty of other positions where the Giants can invest in talent and leadership, and holes on the roster to fill.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
The posts included more than a dozen images that showed bruises and other wounds on her body, holes in the wall and broken cabinets.
—Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Pierce holes in the cake so that the Bourbon Glaze can soak in.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
Nelly Korda birdied her final two holes to shoot a 69 to move to 5 under and in second place, setting up a final pairing of friendly rivals.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
These small black beetles chew holes in leaves and stunt the plants.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
Using a shovel or just your hands, dig holes large enough for the plugs and their root systems—about 2-4 inches deep.
—Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano, The Spruce, 5 Apr. 2026
The shooting appeared to have taken place near a business, and bullet holes were seen in a nearby window.
—Dylan Olsen, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Once soil health improves, many gardeners find that digging individual planting holes is sufficient for establishing crops.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Inline drip looks like long, narrow hoses with holes every six or 12 inches.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Make no mistake, as healthy top-to-bottom as Denver is, there are still a few notable holes on this roster.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
Mirroring the 3-star wig cap structure, this wig featured three combs (left-side, right-side, nape), a drawstring, wig band insertion holes, and a 13×4 lace.
—Noel Cymone Walker, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2026
The penetration holes indicate that the internal facility is likely bombed out, destroying anything that was inside.
—CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
How to Limit Attraction Sealing unwanted tiny cracks, gaps in doors or windows, or utility lines, and holes around the home is one of the best ways to prevent ants from gaining access in the first place.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 11 Mar. 2026
But some backpacks are better for travel than others, perhaps designed with isolated shoe compartments, holes to feed your phone charging cable through, jewelry pouches, and special materials that simply wipe clean after picking up germs from public floors.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
The San Francisco 49ers head into free agency with roughly $38 million in salary-cap space — 11th most in the NFL — and holes all over their roster.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
There are plenty of other positions where the Giants can invest in talent and leadership, and holes on the roster to fill.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
The posts included more than a dozen images that showed bruises and other wounds on her body, holes in the wall and broken cabinets.
—Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Pierce holes in the cake so that the Bourbon Glaze can soak in.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holes
Noun
-
There is some reason to use the lens at tiny apertures, though.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Doing so merges two apertures — the narrow and the microscopic — into a wide-angle lens.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Pangea’s partners mill (grind) and hydrolyze (break down using water) these pits.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The patio at Saints and Council features fire pits, heaters and heated seats.—
Henri Hollis,
AJC.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Journeys that used to take entire seasons were being covered in single episodes, characters survived predicaments that once meant surefire death, and previously relevant factors like supplies, infrastructure, and alliances no longer mattered.—
Tim Brinkhof,
Big Think,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Victorian novels made good use of the predicaments of second and third sons, who had to become ministers or soldiers or schemers, and daughters who needed to be married off according to age.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And in South Florida groups have stepped in to support migrants navigating complicated immigration processes, from deportation to self-deportation, often filling gaps left by government systems.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Experts have also said America’s broader retirement system earns just a C-plus grade, with persistent gaps in coverage, savings adequacy, and longevity protection.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Birds are outfitting their nests with cigarette butts.—
Rachel Brodsky,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
-
What’s driving the surge Life transitions in your 40s and 50s — empty nests, divorce, career pivots or simply reclaiming personal freedom — are sparking the desire to travel solo.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The van’s speakers played a high-volume mashup of construction sounds, Jordan Peterson lectures, Marine Corps drills, and mumbling voices.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Skeleton drills with rags hanging from their shorts.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Fort Worth dining scene in March celebrated a handful of new restaurant openings, hosted multiple celebrity diners and discovered a few new digs on the docket.—
Ella Gonzales
April 1,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Kingfisher, 24 Suns, Matsu and Deckman's North at 3131 are all noteworthy openings in the past few years, showcasing Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Baja Californian flavors with beautiful presentations and remarkable craftsmanship.—
Amber Gibson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This can include scratches, dents, chipped paint and even mismatched units if your warranty coverage leads to a replacement that doesn’t match your other appliances.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
-
When golf-ball-sized hail and 60 mph winds slammed the east coast of Florida in May, Chris Jadin came home to a truck covered in dents and glass all over the floor of his house, his skylight shattered by the falling ice.—
Scott Pham,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holes. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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