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
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Recent Examples of holes
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026
One of those holes is the WNBA’s low pay, which forced players to supplement their income by playing overseas when the league was not in season.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Bar workers covered the bullet holes on the walls of West Sixth Street establishments with mortar.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026
The split was messy and ugly, with figurative and literal shots fired, some of which left bullet holes in Sermon’s house while Redman still lived there.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 Mar. 2026
After the delay, Scheffler enjoyed a back-nine birdie binge, with a five on eight holes.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
That means expect bargain shopping, not whale hunting when free agency opens next week even though the roster has more holes than most offseasons.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Hillier bogeyed the 10th and again saw his lead cut to one shot, but made birdies at the 11th and 12th holes to reestablish his lead.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Echavarria — who was three shots back with three holes left — shot a 5-under 66 on Sunday to win at PGA National, finishing at 17-under 267 and beating Lowry (69), Austin Smotherman (69) and Taylor Moore (68) by two shots.
—Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
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
But Snead also promised to take an aggressive approach to the cornerback position, given the low investments, lack of recent draft picks and holes the group showed as the season played out.
—Nate Atkins, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Some of those trails, initially seen in January, were made by moving dirt to clear a space and creating small mounds and/or holes in the ground to jump over.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The major effect results when the compost penetrates the aeration holes.
—Calvin Finch, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Jan. 2026
It can be washed in a machine and has suction cups on the bottom — holes in the mat help drain excess water.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Bullet holes spider-webbed across the windows, and shattered glass still littered the floor.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
With McFerran’s addition, the Royals have filled their coaching staff holes.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Nov. 2025
Noun
The peak of this dome occurred when the Hall coefficient changed sign, indicating that the dominant charge carriers switched from holes to electrons.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026
One of those holes is the WNBA’s low pay, which forced players to supplement their income by playing overseas when the league was not in season.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Bar workers covered the bullet holes on the walls of West Sixth Street establishments with mortar.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026
The split was messy and ugly, with figurative and literal shots fired, some of which left bullet holes in Sermon’s house while Redman still lived there.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 Mar. 2026
After the delay, Scheffler enjoyed a back-nine birdie binge, with a five on eight holes.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
That means expect bargain shopping, not whale hunting when free agency opens next week even though the roster has more holes than most offseasons.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Hillier bogeyed the 10th and again saw his lead cut to one shot, but made birdies at the 11th and 12th holes to reestablish his lead.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Echavarria — who was three shots back with three holes left — shot a 5-under 66 on Sunday to win at PGA National, finishing at 17-under 267 and beating Lowry (69), Austin Smotherman (69) and Taylor Moore (68) by two shots.
—Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
But Snead also promised to take an aggressive approach to the cornerback position, given the low investments, lack of recent draft picks and holes the group showed as the season played out.
—Nate Atkins, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Some of those trails, initially seen in January, were made by moving dirt to clear a space and creating small mounds and/or holes in the ground to jump over.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The major effect results when the compost penetrates the aeration holes.
—Calvin Finch, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Jan. 2026
It can be washed in a machine and has suction cups on the bottom — holes in the mat help drain excess water.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Bullet holes spider-webbed across the windows, and shattered glass still littered the floor.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
With McFerran’s addition, the Royals have filled their coaching staff holes.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Nov. 2025
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
-
Wayfair also carries plenty of woodburning fire pits made out of steel, many with intricate designs.—
Daniel Modlin,
Architectural Digest,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Not all pads are alike, but a footprint on the larger side involves five to ten acres of cleared, packed ground that serves as the hub for drilling equipment, which can include wellheads, pump jacks, tanks, wastewater storage pits, trailers, and flare stacks.—
Alex Heard,
Outside,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Winning from behind is not sustainable, and the predicaments in which Chelsea have found themselves this week point to other problems.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Rustin has slyly given her script a focus on women’s needs and feelings, a welcome departure for a genre that usually is more concerned about the men’s predicaments.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Seal any cracks and gaps around windows, doors, vents, and utilities ports into the house.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Suggestions for this zone are to remove combustible items and vegetation; screen vents and fill gaps in or totally enclose eaves; and clear debris from a home’s roof, gutters and deck.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These nests can be found along roof eaves, window corners, in mailboxes, and on sturdy plant leaves.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Perfect for a dessert tray or to top a cake, these little nests will delight everyone at your gathering.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wingo and Mosley are both recovering from some nagging injuries suffered during 2025 and haven’t fully participated in offseason team drills.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
-
As the First Platoon commander for Gallatin's Navy JROTC , Nathan trains and drills more than 25 junior cadets during the school day and after hours.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Natalie Bass, marketing director with Zona Rosa, said this marks a turning point for the shopping center and added more openings have yet to be announced.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee
March 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Evening brings mellow crowds, gallery openings, and easy strolls along the water.—
Ted Alvarez,
Outside,
4 Mar. 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 Feb. 2026
-
Beater bars can be too harsh for wood flooring and cause surface scratches, while some vacuum wheels can cause dents due to their weight.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holes. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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