empty 1 of 2

adjective

ˈem(p)-tē How to pronounce empty (audio)
Definition of emptynext
1
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present the refrigerator is empty, so we'll have to eat out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hungry
feeling a desire or need for food as the long car trip wore on, we all started to feel a little empty

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in meaningless
having no meaning spare me your empty apologies because if you were truly sorry, you'd change

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in worthless
having no usefulness an empty task that was assigned just to keep us busy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in unsuccessful
producing no results all of the leads in the missing-person case were turning up empty

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6
as in blank
not expressing any emotion the speaker looked out at a crowd of empty faces

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empty

2 of 2

verb

as in to evacuate
to remove the contents of empty the room before starting to paint the ceiling

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective empty contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of empty are blank, vacant, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When might blank be a better fit than empty?

While in some cases nearly identical to empty, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When could vacant be used to replace empty?

The words vacant and empty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

When is vacuous a more appropriate choice than empty?

Although the words vacuous and empty have much in common, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

When would void be a good substitute for empty?

The meanings of void and empty largely overlap; however, void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

How does the adjective empty contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of empty are blank, vacant, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When might blank be a better fit than empty?

While in some cases nearly identical to empty, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When could vacant be used to replace empty?

The words vacant and empty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

When is vacuous a more appropriate choice than empty?

Although the words vacuous and empty have much in common, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

When would void be a good substitute for empty?

The meanings of void and empty largely overlap; however, void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of empty
Adjective
In December, districts officials said seven of the most empty — Union Park Middle School and Bonneville, Chickasaw, Eccleston, Meadow Woods, McCoy and Orlo Vista elementary schools — were slated to close. —Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026 Real life certainly has its problems, but conspiracy theories don’t offer solutions, only empty promises and targets for blame. —Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Shark Stratos is designed for true hands free maintenance, featuring a NeverTouch Base that handles everything from emptying the dustbin to washing and drying the mop pads. —Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026 That effectively left it as a fourth quarter of nothing by mop-up time, with both benches emptied. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for empty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for empty
  1. devoid
  2. hungry
  3. meaningless
  4. worthless
  5. unsuccessful
  6. blank
  7. evacuate
  8. barren
Adjective
  • Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.
    — Michael Abbott, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.
    — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2024
Definition of devoid
Adjective
  • The Hortas were horrified to learn that Tania Hernandez, the owner of the small house where their friend was going hungry, was a social services worker for the state charged with the mission of saving frail, elderly and disabled adults like Rabell.
    — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Without a bobber stopper, on a slack line, your bullet weight will sink to the bottom, but your soft plastic will slowly glide towards the bottom while enticing hungry bass into biting.
    — Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of hungry
Adjective
  • The next frontier for meaningless records?
    — Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The White House already had dismissed the protests as meaningless.
    — Susan Page, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Definition of meaningless
Adjective
  • America has already achieved an important objective by restoring credibility to our deterrence since military power is worthless if adversaries don’t believe this power will ever be employed.
    — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
  • The winner of the postal contract — a worthless piece of paper without Havana landing rights — was forced to merge.
    — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of worthless
Adjective
  • Attempts to get a comment from the district office were unsuccessful.
    — Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Corrections staff attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful, according to the MDOC.
    — Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of unsuccessful
Adjective
  • These plants are easy to maintain, and grow quickly, allowing and blank space in your containers to appear lush and full.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The blank walls stared at her, vacant pinholes made by previous tenants peering down like dark, shrunken pupils.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of blank
Verb
  • Hezbollah resumed firing rockets from Lebanon into Israel, and Israel has sent troops into Lebanon, urging residents of whole neighborhoods of Beirut to evacuate.
    — Paul Elie, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2026
  • If told to evacuate, do so immediately.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of evacuate
Adjective
  • In some places, fish catches declined precipitously in medium depths, which Joye attributes to nutritionally barren conditions.
    — Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
  • His dread turned to panic when Hochheiser, 79, was unloaded at Villa Rosa III, a 48-bed assisted living home with peeling paint, burglar bars, barren planters and a history of poor care.
    — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of barren

Phrases Containing empty

Browse Nearby Words

emptiness
empty
empty-headed
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Cite this Entry

“Empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empty. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on empty

Nglish: Translation of empty for Spanish Speakers

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