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.

Yemen’s Houthi militants played a smaller role but were an ace in the hole, posing an implied threat to another strategic waterway, the Bab al-Mandab Strait that connects the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 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

The process took over 45 minutes, said the unnamed eyewitness, who told NT News that there were "literal nappies", excrement and urine in the hole.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

When it’s all said and done, and the headphones have lost their charge, there’s nothing more for “Undertone” to do, no ace in the hole final punch to leave viewers breathless.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

Far down in the hole, something moved and he was about to call again.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

in the hole

Example Sentences

Related Words