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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
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Jenna said the tank of acetylene was empty. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 May 2025 Ehlers added a second goal with the Stars’ net empty. Murat Ates, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Verb
Every day, a housemate was assigned to clean the kitchen and the bathroom and to empty the garbage. Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 5 May 2025 The Jets emptied their net and watched as the seconds ticked off the clock in the offensive zone, just hoping for a shot on net to give them a chance at the 3-3 tie and the game in overtime. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 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
  • The bucket stretched the Pacers’ lead to 10 with 2:30 remaining, a cushion just enough to keep the hungry Knicks away.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
  • So before the first guest turned up, there was enough food for a hungry crowd.
    Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • The trouble is that in and of themselves, trade deficits (or surpluses) are meaningless measures of a nation’s economic health.
    Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • Ever since Top Gun: Maverick, Cruise’s films have imposed a sense of duty on audiences — a different purpose than other meaningless, direct-to-streaming content with zero purpose.
    Armond White, National Review, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Life seems almost worthless in this world, as the lack of interest two federal police officers show in the dead body establishes why Marcelo can’t go to the authorities for help.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 18 May 2025
  • The answer is that American assurances are worthless.
    Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Officials said he was found semiconscious on the River Trail on June 30 but resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 24 May 2025
  • Efforts to refloat the ship during high tide on Thursday were unsuccessful.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • But with a blank canvas on which to build a new version of Dedeaux Field, there was some upside.
    Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
  • The Yankees’ bullpen also kept the Rangers off the board, as Mark Leiter Jr., Devin Williams and Luke Weaver all threw blank innings in the low-scoring affair.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Smith, his pregnant wife, and two-year-old son safely evacuated their Altadena house before it was lost in January’s deadly wildfires, but Smith’s friend launched a GoFundMe on the artist’s behalf to help recoup the loss of their house, musical instruments, car, and more belongings.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 19 May 2025
  • As a result, approximately 120,000 Japanese-Americans were forced to evacuate their homes and leave their jobs to live in the camps that were surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards, conditions that are now drawing comparisons to modern-day detention facilities.
    Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • The Bureau’s new research station on Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano, with its high altitude and barren landscape, would prove to be the ideal collection spot.
    Ashley Braun, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empty. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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