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
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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
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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
Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Add a pass rusher with the first pick, a receiver in Round 2 and then spend heavily on patching holes in free agency.
—Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Some of the building’s roofs sport numerous large holes, exposing the beams underneath, and orange-brown discoloration on the shingles.
—Angela Palermo
january 7, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2026
State audits in 2025 of PG&E substations in the Bay Area that found problems including missing fire extinguishers, oil leaks, non-functional cooling fans, loose wires, holes where bolts should be, and birds nesting in electrical equipment.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
This can involve checking crawl spaces, your home’s foundation, around windows and doors, and under the eaves of your home for small holes and filling them up with spray foam or steel wool.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 7 Jan. 2026
Just ensure your containers have drainage holes to prevent water from collecting at the bottom of them.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
Chilli's nose is on high alert during the training session, often digging into holes in the bricks.
—Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Stammen and Preller have already begun discussing filling holes on the staff left by hitting coach Victor Rodriguez (Astros) and third base coach Tim Leiper (Mets) departing.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
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
Axiom technicians will first identify the potential entry points that pests generally use to enter a home, including small cracks in the foundation, gaps near windows, or holes around plumbing/electrical lines.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
With key free agents and holes opening across the roster, the Jays will have to find the same formula that nearly lifted them to a title.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
And the rise of insurance money in investing has created patient capital that in many cases fits those money holes better than blunter instruments.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 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
Noun
Officers saw multiple bullet holes on the metal fence dividing the properties and shell casings in his backyard, the affidavit said.
—Verb
It can be washed in a machine and has suction cups on the bottom — holes in the mat help drain excess water.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for holes
Noun
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In Stubb’s Cave, strangler-fig roots teemed from ceiling apertures.—
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As much of the world shut down, the apertures that life generally opens up for young people like the Shibutanis began shrinking.—
Noun
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Outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and infinity pools are carefully sited to offer stunning views without detracting from the scenery, reinforcing the sense that every feature has its place in the overall narrative of the property.—
-
Some fruit pits and seeds, like those in apples and pears, contain traces of cyanide, which is harmful to birds.—
Noun
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Brooks’s screenplay makes ample space to dump praise upon its protagonist while bemoaning her many predicaments.—
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But this is just one of the many predicaments of writing memoir.—
Noun
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For some of the victims’ families, the interviews clarified how and why the crimes unfolded, filling in gaps that police files and court records never fully answered after years of unresolved questions.—
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The gas can seep into homes through cracks in foundations or basement floors; gaps around pipes, cables, or utility lines; construction joints where walls and floors meet; and crawlspaces or dirt floors, the county said.—
Noun
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Scan treetops for high points with clear views of the surrounding landscape for nests.—
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As Interesting Engineering reported in July 2025, workers at the Savannah River Site discovered a series of radioactive wasp nests during routine inspections near the F-Area Tank Farm.—
Verb
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Every college and pro coach drills the same message into their players’ heads, nothing good happens after midnight.—
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The state also limited preseason contact drills to six hours total and banned spring and summer practices.—
Noun
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Tiny gaps around garages, vents, gutters, and foundations let mice squeeze inside unless openings are properly sealed.—
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This week in metro Atlanta’s dining scene, restaurants rebounded with several new openings and announcements.—
Noun
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Anyway, dents are coming for the Patriots next year when their road will get much rockier, and all of this schedule conversation will inevitably subside.—
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Keep yours protected from scratches and dents with this leather zip case.—
Cite this Entry
“Holes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holes. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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