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empty

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verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
The mass resignation leaves the board's remaining 11 seats empty. Rachel Treisman, NPR, 12 June 2025 The defense attorney was facing the bench and an empty judge’s swivel chair. Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 June 2025
Verb
Rounding it all out: a lengthy double-gated driveway that passes between a pair of matching 2,000-square-foot carriage houses and over a bridge before emptying out at a circular motor court, along with an eight-car garage complemented by a subterranean six-car garage for all your toys. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 23 May 2025 The ejection occurred in the third inning, forcing the Red Sox to empty their bullpen. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for empty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for empty
Adjective
  • Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.
    Michael Abbott, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Delle, devoid for so long from its intrinsic need for social interaction might be filling in the gaps by talking to himself.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 14 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • No one went home hungry, and the guests mostly raved about it.
    Judith Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2025
  • Notably, the current roster has more from the top North American league, MLS, and fewer from European clubs, perhaps to get an infusion from hungrier players who have been playing regularly for their teams.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • And if your tax attorney crafts a great benefits plan for your business but fails to communicate the specifics to your retirement broker, the plan is meaningless.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Charlie Comfort, a Democrat from the former early-voting state of Iowa, said the critiques of Murphy and Khanna are meaningless so long after the 2024 election.
    Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • If the equity portion were reduced to 57% with 3% put into bitcoin, the average return drops to 6.8% in the worthless scenario and jumps to 8.2% if bitcoin hits $1 million.
    Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
  • But without sufficient funding and additional critical measures, these proclamations are worthless words.
    Daniel Kolkey, Oc Register, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • One game after the Oilers were unsuccessful in challenging that Bennett interfered with Stuart Skinner during the game’s first goal, Bennett toppled over Skinner after getting contact from Ekholm later in the period.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 7 June 2025
  • Efforts to reach Suncor officials for this story were unsuccessful.
    Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 7 June 2025
Adjective
  • Around the world, natural disasters—including the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina the following year—have entrenched this concept, whereby crises create a blank sheet ready to be exploited by Big Business.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 5 June 2025
  • Dawkins will send a standard set of 10 blank nails, one each in every size (small, medium, large) so customers can try them on and decide their best fit.
    Ruth Etiesit Samuel, Essence, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium continues to grow, Israeli officials are openly weighing military options, and the United States is evacuating diplomats and military families from Iraq due to rising tensions.
    Jane Harman, Time, 13 June 2025
  • Officials received a distress call just after 9 a.m. Thursday, June 12, reporting that the crew of the 57-foot sport fisher was evacuating using a life raft after the boat started taking on water, the United States Coast Guard said in a June 12 news release.
    Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • For many of the faithful, the pilgrimage begins at a sacred mud volcano rising from the barren landscape near the Makran Coastal Highway.
    Zia ur-Rehman Asim Hafeez, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • The festival was deliberately planned for the barren weeks in June after college students left and before the summer concert and festival season kicked in.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 25 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empty. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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