void 1 of 3

adjective

ˈvȯid How to pronounce void (audio)
Definition of voidnext
1
as in null
having no legal or binding force an agreement is void if obtained by force

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2
as in empty
lacking contents that could or should be present a nuclear explosion that would leave the landscape as void and lifeless as one could imagine

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3
as in devoid
utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected entirely void of common sense

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4
as in deserted
left unoccupied or unused the cornfields lay void under a blanket of snow

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void

2 of 3

noun

1
as in gap
an incomplete or deficient area a repressed memory that left a huge void in her recollection of her adolescent years

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2
as in emptiness
empty space those ancient travelers who traversed those vast watery voids between the islands of Oceania

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3
as in hole
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) the client wanted an old-fashioned stone wall and did not want the voids filled in with mortar

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void

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to repeal
to put an end to by formal action the court's decision voided the will the cashier voided the sale when the customer realized his wallet was at home

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2
as in to empty
to remove the contents of the seller has promised to void the house of all furniture

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective void contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of void are blank, empty, vacant, and vacuous. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

When is it sensible to use blank instead of void?

The words blank and void are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When might empty be a better fit than void?

The synonyms empty and void are sometimes interchangeable, but empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When can vacant be used instead of void?

In some situations, the words vacant and void are roughly equivalent. However, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

In what contexts can vacuous take the place of void?

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

a vacuous facial expression

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 void
Adjective
Shumate wants the deed declared void and title to the property restored to WFO Homes. —Patrick Danner, San Antonio Express-News, 3 Feb. 2026 Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Sweepstakes or website, who act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified and all associated entries will be void. —AJC.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
There was a void for these types of characters, the storylines, interaction and chemistry between the characters. —Starr Rocque, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026 Another player that could find himself on the way out is D’Angelo Russell, who was signed in the offseason to fill the void at point guard left by Irving’s injury. —Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 2 Feb. 2026
Verb
His cookbook contracts were voided, his books pulled from bookstore shelves. —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026 She was stripped of her Olympic gold medal in the team event and her scores were voided. —Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for void
Recent Examples of Synonyms for void
  1. empty
  2. devoid
  3. deserted
  4. gap
  5. emptiness
  6. hole
  7. repeal
  8. invalid
Adjective
  • An empty mount later seen attached to the doorframe appears to match one designed for a Google product.
    — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • As malls have closed because of shifting consumer shopping habits and a desire for more lucrative development opportunities, the expansive empty buildings have taken on a new draw as a kind of postapocalyptic wasteland, much to the chagrin of local officials.
    — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of 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
  • That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.
    — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2024
Definition of devoid
Adjective
  • In Send Help, Linda (McAdams) and her overbearing boss Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) survive a plane crash and become stranded on a deserted island, where their past office grievances become a violent fight for survival.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Officials said up to 85% of Ksar El Kebir was evacuated, leaving the town, known for its sugar production, nearly deserted.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of deserted
Noun
  • Engineers have struggled to close the reaction gap between human perception and machine processing without sacrificing accuracy.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
  • There’s a dusty cloud surrounding the central, contracting star, and that cloud is strongly suspected to be disk-like, with outflows and gaps in the dust in the two directions perpendicular to the disk.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of gap
Noun
  • Kerr and several staffers compared the emptiness around downtown, coupled with the frigid temperatures outside, to feelings that existed during COVID.
    — Nick Friedell, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Many roads in Austin remained icy on Monday morning and many coffee shops and restaurants echoed the emptiness on the streets with their own temporary closures.
    — Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of emptiness
Noun
  • Will the loss or diminishment of newspapers leave a hole in society?
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Oval holes in the walls once held lamps to light the street after dark.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of hole
Verb
  • That means repealing private school voucher programs, protecting the separation of church and state, and keeping public funds in public institutions.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
  • This law, which includes stricter punishments for those who don't comply, repealed a 2001 ordinance on kite flying.
    — Betsy Joles, NPR, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of repeal
Adjective
  • City officials, however, cannot bypass procedures due to due process requirements, and attempting to accelerate the timeline might render the revocation invalid.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Halligan, a former insurance attorney who had been working in the White House, promptly filed indictments against the two, but both were ultimately dismissed after a court found Halligan’s appointment was invalid.
    — Barbara McQuade, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of invalid

Phrases Containing void

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voicing
void
voidance
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Cite this Entry

“Void.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/void. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on void

Nglish: Translation of void for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about void

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