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
Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
So, nine holes into his pro-am practice round on Thursday, hours before the real competition started, Retief Goosen changed his grip.
—Stan Awtrey, AJC.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Bonifas was named All Big 12 honorable mention and helped create holes for a running game that averaged 175 yards per game last season.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
This is because poor soil or weak drainage—like using pots without drainage holes, one of many common mistakes of growing tomatoes in containers—can lead to root rot, nutrient deficiencies, and stunted growth, Omelchenko says.
—Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 19 Apr. 2026
There may be four to five flat entrance holes to burrows concentrated in a small area.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Her play helped carry the Gators, ranked third nationally, to the top of the leaderboard after 54 holes of stroke play.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Graves lie empty, with large rectangular holes where the dead have been exhumed.
—ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
Starting on the back nine on Friday, Yoon did the majority of her damage on her first nine holes, shooting a career-low 29, making three birdies in her first four holes and then four consecutive birdies to close out the first nine.
—Bob Buttitta, Daily News, 18 Apr. 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
The Buckeyes spent 15 spring practices trying to fill holes and develop young talent to fill the void created by NFL attrition.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
So, nine holes into his pro-am practice round on Thursday, hours before the real competition started, Retief Goosen changed his grip.
—Stan Awtrey, AJC.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Bonifas was named All Big 12 honorable mention and helped create holes for a running game that averaged 175 yards per game last season.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
This is because poor soil or weak drainage—like using pots without drainage holes, one of many common mistakes of growing tomatoes in containers—can lead to root rot, nutrient deficiencies, and stunted growth, Omelchenko says.
—Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 19 Apr. 2026
There may be four to five flat entrance holes to burrows concentrated in a small area.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Her play helped carry the Gators, ranked third nationally, to the top of the leaderboard after 54 holes of stroke play.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Graves lie empty, with large rectangular holes where the dead have been exhumed.
—ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
Starting on the back nine on Friday, Yoon did the majority of her damage on her first nine holes, shooting a career-low 29, making three birdies in her first four holes and then four consecutive birdies to close out the first nine.
—Bob Buttitta, Daily News, 18 Apr. 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
-
Edges and corners are soft at wide apertures.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The new Calibre 1150 was designed using 3-D modeling such that nearly all functions are easily engaged and adjusted via three pushers fitted within and flanking the crown, while all calendar functions are displayed via dedicated apertures in order to minimize visual clutter.—
Oren Hartov,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These pits can merge to form larger depressions, with floors often covered in polygonal patterns resulting from stresses caused by water freezing and sublimating as Mars' climate changes across the aeons, triggered by changes in the Red Planet's axial tilt.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Researchers in Saudi Arabia have figured out how to turn date pits into artificial bones.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
In sixteenth-century Italian pedante comedies, the Latin tutors—always the butt of the joke—are known more for the gaps in their knowledge than for their erudition.—
Clare Bucknell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Policymakers, especially here in Tokyo, would be wise to accept more foreign workers to plug labor gaps, but that’s not a durable answer on its own.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Knight explains that, over the last 20 years, the beach has typically seen 80 to 115 nests (with 100 to 120 eggs in each nest).—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Provide Nesting Materials Create a habitat in your front, side, or backyard where birds can build nests and find materials to make one.—
Lauren David,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Embiid, a 7-foot-0, 280-pound, 32-year-old native of Cameroon who won league MVP honors in 2023, participated in some of the Sixers’ drills just 15 days removed from emergency appendectomy surgery.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
-
For kids, there will be a mobile video game truck, skills and drills stations, inflatables, balloon and caricature artist and a face painter.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Price increases come amid store expansion The six openings in 2026 come after a slow 2025, when the warehouse retailer opened only one store in Tempe, Arizona.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Star covered 15 openings, including new chain locations, bottomless sushi, unique ice cream and award-winning coffee.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Smooth Dents and Remove Stains from Wood Wooden floors and tables can be extremely prone to dents, nicks, and stains, but an iron can be a surprisingly effective way to clear off water stains and smooth out dents.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Check your propane level and inspect the tank for any visible dents or damage if using a gas grill.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holes. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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