Definitions

in the hole

Part of Speech:

All (4) Adjective (1) Noun (3)

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in the red adj.
debt n.
deficit n.
shortfall n.

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.

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in the hole

So you can still enjoy live music, and maybe discover your new favorite artist or the next breakout star, without ending up hundreds of dollars in the hole.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

She saw a long line of concrete trucks headed that way a few days ago, and a contractor told her the concrete was to fill in the hole.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

A golfer could place the ball in the hole by hand; a runner could drive to the finish line.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026

But make no mistake, all of this is enabled by low costs to reach space, and SpaceX’s ace in the hole is its giant, fully reusable rocket, Starship.

From Barron's ● Apr. 26, 2026

In the first place, Old Dan didn’t want to be put in the hole head first.

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls

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