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
Darin Detwiler, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Type Of Pot Choose a 4- to 6-inch pot with several drainage holes to keep the soil from getting waterlogged and soggy.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
After watering the plant until the water runs out of the pot’s drainage holes, empty the excess water so the roots are not left standing in water.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
Between the black skeletons of still-standing trees, black burn holes showed where the root systems of others had been eviscerated.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Who else pokes holes in this claim?
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
With good teams climbing out of holes or sliding into them and rebuilding teams leveling up faster than expected, 2025 feels more up for grabs than any season in recent memory.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Inside the old asylum, plaster peeled from mottled walls and holes gaped in the ceiling.
—Jen Rose Smith, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Dowdle is running through huge holes, and Young is taking advantage of defenses that think the run is coming.
—Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025
Ben Pickman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Drill small pilot holes a half inch from the sides of the board.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
Bullet holes in a window at the KXTV offices in Sacramento.
—Liz Kreutz, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2025
Bullet holes through a window at the ABC10 building in Sacramento.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outdoors.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
Yet, the rule won’t take effect until July 2028 and leaves big holes.
—Darin Detwiler, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Type Of Pot Choose a 4- to 6-inch pot with several drainage holes to keep the soil from getting waterlogged and soggy.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
After watering the plant until the water runs out of the pot’s drainage holes, empty the excess water so the roots are not left standing in water.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
Between the black skeletons of still-standing trees, black burn holes showed where the root systems of others had been eviscerated.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Who else pokes holes in this claim?
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
With good teams climbing out of holes or sliding into them and rebuilding teams leveling up faster than expected, 2025 feels more up for grabs than any season in recent memory.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Inside the old asylum, plaster peeled from mottled walls and holes gaped in the ceiling.
—Jen Rose Smith, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Dowdle is running through huge holes, and Young is taking advantage of defenses that think the run is coming.
—Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Minnesota will be aggressive filling whatever holes spring up, and Reeve has proven to be resourceful.
—Ben Pickman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Drill small pilot holes a half inch from the sides of the board.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
Bullet holes in a window at the KXTV offices in Sacramento.
—Liz Kreutz, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2025
Bullet holes through a window at the ABC10 building in Sacramento.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outdoors.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holes
Noun
-
These Celestron Skymaster 20x80 binoculars let in enough light for regular skywatching, thanks to their massive 80mm apertures.—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Similarly, in astronomy, larger apertures, advances in photography and spectroscopy, the development of multi-wavelength astronomy beyond the visible light spectrum, and the first space telescopes all brought in new observational data that upended many pre-existing ideas.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The courtyard is outfitted with several fire pits and is a nice place to hang out, and the property regularly hosts outdoor yoga classes as well.—
Mae Hamilton,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
-
In warm weather, rent a paddleboard from the hotel and glide across Lake Estes, or warm up around the fire pits or in the dry sauna.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Pakistan Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said his nation was hoping for more of a consensus going into Tuesday’s vote given the funding predicaments and operational issues that have dogged the MSS.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Is River in desperate need of some R&R, or is everyone else projecting their own predicaments onto him?—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Funding cliff The children wasting away, day by day, don’t have time to wait for funding gaps to be filled.—
Rebecca Wright,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Jupiter was shaping Earth's fate before our planet even existed, carving gaps in the early solar system that kept its building blocks from plunging into the sun, a new study finds.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The chimney sweep will identify whether your chimney requires cleaning to remove creosote build-up, animal nests, or debris.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Their eggs were also considered a delicacy and dug up from their nests on beaches.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The state also limited preseason contact drills to six hours total and banned spring and summer practices.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
20 Oct. 2025
-
If New England drills the Dolphins, head coach Mike McDaniel might not make it to Week 3.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Outer openings not protected against entry of pests (back door open).—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Because the surface of the cornea contains multiple tiny microabrasions from your contact rubbing against it, these can function as openings for the amoeba to infiltrate—and the longer you’re exposed to it, the further in it can burrow.—
Holly Burns,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Softened is different from melted, because softened butter still holds its shape but dents when pressed.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The beige paint on this one was faded and the surface had some dents and rough spots.—
Laura Lane,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holes. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share