rabbit hole

noun

Definition of rabbit holenext
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

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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 The guidance specified that Fox’s programs should not follow Trump down a conspiratorial rabbit hole relating to the 2020 election. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026 My rabbit hole ended, happily, in this serendipitous Hell Gate profile of the Williamsburg tailor who kept Interpol in fine threads. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026 Trust your instincts without going down the rabbit hole of confusion. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026 Defense protestations aside, the impact of Davis’s own voice on jurors seemed clear, and Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal managed to keep the multiple investigations and hip-hop rivalry testimony from falling down a rabbit hole. — John L. Smith, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rabbit hole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rabbit hole
  1. dilemma
  2. predicament
  3. pickle
  4. hole
  5. bind
  6. swamp
  7. corner
Noun
  • The Soviet Union’s 1957 launch of the Sputnik satellite posed a profound dilemma for NATO.
    — Ivo H. Daalder, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The dilemma reveals one of the structural flaws in American healthcare.
    — Dylan Scott, Vox, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of dilemma
Noun
  • News of the rescue has gotten hundreds of reactions on social media, with many noting the dog’s predicament was heartbreaking.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Through one dangerous predicament after another, his stunt work reveals a performer who seems entirely comfortable in his own skin.
    — Kristen Lopez, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of predicament
Noun
  • Sauces and pickles checked in the walk-in cooler are at 42 degrees.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Recently a box showcased sweet, custardy amaebi, salmon belly, chum ikura, uni, toro, Hokkaido hotate, octopus and kizami wasabi adorned with various flowers and pickles.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of pickle
Noun
  • His unit had shown holes in the secondary, ranking 131st in the country in pass defense.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Joe Jackson ran for 159 yards and a touchdown, Avery Johnson threw for 203 yards and another score, and the Wildcats overcame a multitude of mistakes while rallying from an early 10-point hole to keep nearly two decades of dominance going.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • More recently, in 2023, Belarusian embassies abroad stopped extending or renewing passports entirely, putting dissidents who fled the country in a similar bind to those from Myanmar.
    — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Feasting on neutrality Few illustrate the current bind better than Caitlin Clark.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of bind
Noun
  • South Carolina went into the swamp and beat the Gators 38-19.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The bog and its cousins the swamp and marsh have always occupied a certain niche in popular culture, but more recently these landscapes are enjoying broader appeal.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of swamp
Noun
  • The Tkachuks won the puck along the right wing boards and Brady got control in the corner.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Even with the rain, the sunroom-like den remained my favorite corner of the house to read, sip on coffee, or take a moment to myself before breakfast.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of corner

Browse Nearby Words

rabbit
rabbit hole
rabbit holes
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Cite this Entry

“Rabbit hole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rabbit%20hole. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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