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Showing results for in the hole.
Definitions

in the hole

ADJECTIVE
in the red
Synonyms
WEAK
at a loss bankrupt behindhand defaulting delinquent in arrears in debt in dire straits in hock insolvent losing money nonpaying to the bad unprofitably
Antonyms
WEAK
in the black
NOUN
debt
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arrears bill capital commitment credit damage deficit due indebtedness liability mortgage obligation price tag receipt
STRONG
IOU albatross baggage bite check chit claim cuff debenture debit dues duty encumbrance invoice manifest note reckoning responsibility score tab tally voucher
WEAK
arrearage bad news below the line dead horse in hock in the red outstandings promissory note red ink
Antonyms
STRONG
irresponsibility
WEAK
asset cash excess profit
NOUN
deficit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
loss shortfall
STRONG
arrears defalcation default deficiency dues inadequacy insufficiency lack paucity scantiness shortcoming
WEAK
dead horse due bill in hock in the red insufficience red ink underage
Antonyms
STRONG
abundance adequacy advantage enough perfection plenty satisfaction success sufficiency
WEAK
excess superfluousness
NOUN
shortfall
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deficiency flaw lack loss shortage shortcoming
STRONG
arrears default defectiveness inadequacy incompleteness insufficiency
WEAK
in the red insufficience red ink underage
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abundance enough perfection plenty success sufficiency

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Although Johnston came off the bench, he was an ace in the hole whenever the Panthers needed one.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

“We have spent millions of dollars to support the Washington Opera’s exclusivity and yet they were still millions of dollars in the hole - and getting worse.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026

Have you also booked a “cheap” United flight only to realize that you’d be more than $100 in the hole if you wanted to bring a single piece of luggage with you to a wedding?

From Slate • Oct. 9, 2025

This week excavators were slowly filling in the hole and the council insisted it was sticking to its timetable to finish the repairs by Christmas.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2025

He laid Barney in the hole, then took from his pocket a scrap of paper.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.