empty-handed
adjective
emp·ty-hand·ed
ˌem(p)-tē-ˈhan-dəd 
1
: having or bringing nothing
2
: having acquired or gained nothing
came back empty-handed
Examples of empty-handed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This time, the perpetrators were several boys or young men who, caught on camera and tripping the alarm, left empty-handed because there was again nothing to find.
—
Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2025
The visit was intended to convince Riyadh to lower oil prices amid a global energy crunch caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but Biden came home empty-handed.
—Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
Plus, at Sunday’s Golden Globes, the pop girls — Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus — went home empty-handed, but Katie & Keith wonder: Might Wicked be more awarded for its second installment coming later this year?
—Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 7 Jan. 2025
Related Articles But those hoping to see what rookie backup running back Blake Corum had to show were left empty-handed.
—Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for empty-handed 
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Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2025
The visit was intended to convince Riyadh to lower oil prices amid a global energy crunch caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but Biden came home empty-handed.
—Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
Plus, at Sunday’s Golden Globes, the pop girls — Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus — went home empty-handed, but Katie & Keith wonder: Might Wicked be more awarded for its second installment coming later this year?
—Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 7 Jan. 2025
Related Articles But those hoping to see what rookie backup running back Blake Corum had to show were left empty-handed.
—Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for empty-handed
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Dictionary Entries Near empty-handed
Cite this Entry
“Empty-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empty-handed. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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