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
Relevance
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
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 holes
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2026
On a building near where the shooting occurred, bullet holes were seen on its facade, including a crack in an apartment window.
—
Rashad Alexander,
Kansas City Star,
28 June 2026
Workers feed iron ore, coal and limestone into the furnaces’ top and use long sticks to punch open holes for purified molten iron to flow out from the bottom.
—
John Lippert,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
But there is an air of futility to the scene, like the coaches are shepherding square pegs into round holes.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
Screens with holes and gaps provide easy access for flies and other pests to enter.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
27 June 2026
The piece has seven holes for customization, and it’s designed to be worn at the hips or waist.
—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
His lead was down to a single shot after just five holes, and the stress followed him the rest of the way.
—
CBS News,
21 June 2026
Check the drainage holes; some decorative pots don’t have any or only one small hole.
—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 June 2026
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
Space the planting holes 18 to 24 inches apart and space rows 3 to 6 feet apart.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 May 2026
The flight attendants then attempted to solve the problem by shoving napkins inside the ceiling holes.
—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
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
Noun
After shooting 1-over 71 on Saturday, James made bogey on his final two holes and finished Sunday’s final round at 3-over 73.
—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2026
On a building near where the shooting occurred, bullet holes were seen on its facade, including a crack in an apartment window.
—
Rashad Alexander,
Kansas City Star,
28 June 2026
Workers feed iron ore, coal and limestone into the furnaces’ top and use long sticks to punch open holes for purified molten iron to flow out from the bottom.
—
John Lippert,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
But there is an air of futility to the scene, like the coaches are shepherding square pegs into round holes.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
Screens with holes and gaps provide easy access for flies and other pests to enter.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
27 June 2026
The piece has seven holes for customization, and it’s designed to be worn at the hips or waist.
—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
His lead was down to a single shot after just five holes, and the stress followed him the rest of the way.
—
CBS News,
21 June 2026
Check the drainage holes; some decorative pots don’t have any or only one small hole.
—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 June 2026
Verb
Caulk holes around plumbing and sewer lines where roaches are likely to enter.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
Space the planting holes 18 to 24 inches apart and space rows 3 to 6 feet apart.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 May 2026
The flight attendants then attempted to solve the problem by shoving napkins inside the ceiling holes.
—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holes
Noun
-
Low apertures can also help if devices are capable, as can wide-angle lenses on traditional cameras.
-
The only structural change has been the addition of three pyramidlike apertures to light the studio/living room.
Noun
-
Areas such as crawl spaces, sump pump pits, utility cellars and under-porch areas can be hotter than outside air, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
-
Bordeaux Wine Bar, Enumclaw, Washington – A favorite neighborhood hangout, this indoor/outdoor wine bar is known for warm fire pits in the winter months and a large selection of Northwest wines, along with a seasonal food menu.
Noun
-
Rather than bridging shortfalls, both Seattle and Washington now face more difficult fiscal predicaments, Joblon said.
-
The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.
Noun
-
Rissetto used her own dad, Michel Arteaga, to depict the nation's health literacy gaps.
-
Despite some large gaps heading into Friday, legislative Democrats and the governor had already closed several other ones.
Noun
-
Many native ants have single colonies with one queen, but Asian needle ants can live in supercolonies with multiple nests and multiple queens, sharing resources and moving between nests.
-
Intervention isn't usually allowed at eagle nests, but since the problem clearly had a human cause, people got permission to step in.
Verb
-
He is hyperfocused on details and drills home teaching points relentlessly.
-
The two countries conducted joint nuclear forces drills earlier this month.
Noun
-
Don’t miss our guide with nearly two-dozen new bar openings across the city.
-
The openings come as the retailer plans dozens more locations in 2026, having already added stores in California, Florida, and Texas this year.
Noun
-
Watch for dents, broken springs, or light coming through, as these can strain parts and lead to bigger issues.
-
That French idiom about having long teeth — les dents longues — can have negative connotations about a person’s ambitious streak.
Cite this Entry
“Holes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holes. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
