as in dilemma
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
shoreline residents are finding themselves helplessly falling down a rabbit hole in their Sisyphean efforts to halt beach erosion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 rabbit hole
Some creators go even deeper down the rabbit hole, suggesting that a puffy face is a telltale sign of an autoimmune or hormonal disorder like adrenal dysfunction, polycystic ovary syndrome, or Hashimoto’s disease.
—
Georgia Casey, Allure, 6 Feb. 2026
The Athletic dove down the rabbit hole to uncover the tracks that fuel Benito’s energy, setting the stage for the halftime show Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
—Denny Alfonso, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
Need a new rabbit hole to burrow into this winter?
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
Our team actually went down a rabbit hole really just studying this category of books because there are a lot of folks that didn’t even really know that this genre existed or existed in such volume and that there was so much fandom around it.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rabbit hole
Georgia Casey, Allure, 6 Feb. 2026
The Athletic dove down the rabbit hole to uncover the tracks that fuel Benito’s energy, setting the stage for the halftime show Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
—Denny Alfonso, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
Need a new rabbit hole to burrow into this winter?
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
Our team actually went down a rabbit hole really just studying this category of books because there are a lot of folks that didn’t even really know that this genre existed or existed in such volume and that there was so much fandom around it.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rabbit hole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rabbit hole
Noun
-
Readers send Miss Manners not only their table and party questions, but those involving the more complicated aspects of life - romance, work, family relationships, child-rearing, death - as well as philosophical and moral dilemmas.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Lawmakers have noticed the dilemma in recent decades, resulting in a handful of states tweaking privacy laws.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And there's no sign that the president is ready to get involved in Georgia's primary on May 19, meaning Republicans there could be on course for a similar predicament.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
And there’s no sign that the president is ready to get involved in Georgia’s primary on May 19, meaning Republicans there could be on course for a similar predicament.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Alex Garcia’s cheeseburger tartare is a mound of rib-eye sliced by hand into dice-sized squares of meat, dressed in a vinaigrette that zips with pickle brine, soy, mustard and even a squirt or two of ketchup.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
To really take your love of all things zesty dill to the next level, the chain is also now offering Miss Vickie’s Spicy Dill Pickle Chips, and recommends layering the chips onto your sandwich for more pickle crunch.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On Monday morning, Brandon Bailey, who flew into LAX from Texas, told The Times that the potential increase will leave a hole in his travel budget.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Days after trading center Garrett Bradbury to Chicago for a fifth-round pick — a solid piece of business with Bradbury entering a contract year but also immediate consequences — the Pats have a hole in their offensive line.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
California operates under a jungle primary system, meaning Calvert and Kim could both advance to the general election, which could put the House Republican campaign arm in a bind.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
-
That frustration of that false start was nothing compared to the bind that lay in store.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The wetlands had been sold decades earlier as useless swamp, mostly to unsuspecting northerners with little regard for the powerful benefits that wetlands provide humans.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Who is the woman found in the swamp?—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
New York — For months, investors and analysts have kept a close eye on the shadowy corner of finance known as private credit, where alarm bells have stoked fears of a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Designed for small patios, balconies, and gardens, the three-piece set includes a weather-resistant oval table and two chairs that easily tuck into nooks and tight corners.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rabbit hole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rabbit%20hole. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
