rabbit hole
/ˈræbɪt ˌhoʊl/
NOUN
1. A burrow or underground passage made by a rabbit
A hole or tunnel dug by a rabbit in the ground, serving as an entrance to its underground shelter or network of burrows.
1.1. Animal habitat and burrowing
Refers to a natural opening or passage in the ground made and used by rabbits for shelter, nesting, and access to their underground burrows.
Synonyms
- rabbit burrow
- burrow
- rabbit tunnel
Examples
- The dog sniffed around a rabbit hole near the edge of the field.
- Several rabbit holes were visible along the sandy bank.
Related Words
NOUN
2. A strange or confusing situation that is difficult to escape
A complicated, unusual, or disorienting situation that draws someone into increasingly confusing circumstances and becomes difficult to leave.
2.1. Confusing and complicated situations
Describes an intricate or bewildering situation involving unexpected complications, uncertainty, or difficulties that make it hard to find a way out.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- straightforward situation
- simple solution
- clear path
Examples
- The investigation turned into a legal rabbit hole that took years to resolve.
- Trying to understand the company's regulations led us into a bureaucratic rabbit hole.
Related Words
- puzzle
- enigma
- Gordian knot
- complexity
- confusion
2.2. Surreal or bizarre experiences
Describes an unusual, disorienting, or seemingly unreal experience in which familiar rules and expectations no longer seem to apply.
Synonyms
- wonderland
- alternate reality
- surreal world
- strange world
Antonyms
- ordinary reality
- familiar world
- normal situation
Examples
- The novel takes its protagonist down a rabbit hole into a world where time behaves strangely.
- After entering the abandoned building, they seemed to have fallen into a surreal rabbit hole.
Related Words
- fantasy
- dreamscape
- hallucination
- illusion
- otherworldliness
NOUN
3. A prolonged and absorbing diversion into a subject
An investigation, activity, or chain of discoveries that captures someone's attention and leads them progressively deeper into a subject, often consuming much more time than intended.
3.1. Online browsing and internet research
Describes becoming absorbed in a chain of websites, links, videos, or online information, moving from one topic to another and losing track of time.
Synonyms
- internet rabbit hole
- digital rabbit hole
- online tangent
- online distraction
- information rabbit hole
Antonyms
- focused browsing
- targeted search
- purposeful research
Examples
- A quick search for gardening tips sent me down an internet rabbit hole for three hours.
- She fell into a YouTube rabbit hole watching documentaries about ancient civilizations.
Related Words
- doomscrolling
- web surfing
- hyperlink
- browsing
- information overload
3.2. Deep exploration of a topic or interest
Describes becoming intensely absorbed in researching or exploring a particular subject, often uncovering increasingly specialized or unexpected information.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- brief inquiry
- superficial exploration
- focused investigation
Examples
- What began as a simple question about photography became a rabbit hole of technical research.
- His interest in ancient languages sent him down a fascinating rabbit hole of historical discoveries.
Related Words
NOUN
4. An initial clue leading into an alternate reality game
An entry point, clue, or introductory element that draws participants into an alternate reality game or an interconnected fictional experience.
4.1. Alternate reality games and interactive fiction
Refers to an initial clue, message, or discovery that introduces participants to an alternate reality game and leads them toward further puzzles, narratives, and hidden information.
Synonyms
- entry point
- initial clue
- starting clue
- game gateway
Examples
- The mysterious website served as a rabbit hole for the alternate reality game.
- Players followed the first rabbit hole to uncover the game's hidden storyline.
Related Words
- ARG
- puzzle trail
- cryptic message
- interactive narrative
- game mystery