How to Use empty-handed in a Sentence
empty-handed
adjective-
That doesn’t mean the Dodgers will emerge from the trade deadline empty-handed.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2023
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But there’s good news for fans who have come up empty-handed.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
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But the team came away nearly empty-handed in the effort.
—Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2023
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The group fled empty-handed, but Tess’ wounds were fatal.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2023
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The inning, though, showed fight and a stubborn refusal to slink away empty-handed.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2024
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Some went to extreme lengths to ensure they wouldn’t be left empty-handed.
—Kyle Glaser, Orange County Register, 16 May 2024
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Killers went home empty-handed on Sunday night, one of the rare times that’s happened this season.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2024
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Both women come back empty-handed, but not for lack of trying.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Apr. 2023
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But the researchers packed up four hours later, empty-handed.
—Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2023
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Many of them left empty-handed, according to residents who spoke to The Times.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2023
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Why would anybody point a gun at poor empty-handed Stephen Plato McRae?
—Christopher Ketcham, Harper's Magazine, 16 Oct. 2023
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That fellow ended up walking out empty-handed, as did a man who ditched a full cart near the entrance.
—Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024
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The police arrived and attempted to chase down the car but returned empty-handed.
—Katherine Itoh, NBC News, 3 Feb. 2024
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Needing to get home to their two papillons, the couple leave empty-handed.
—Cathy Alter, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2023
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Last year, his dad won the vintage category, but Mitch had gone home empty-handed.
—Michael E. Miller, Washington Post, 6 Dec. 2023
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But Ukraine will hardly be leaving the summit empty-handed.
—Yasmeen Serhan, Time, 12 July 2023
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Don’t be surprised if one or two of them leave the Academy Awards empty-handed, or with just a single statuette to show for their efforts.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2024
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But the distributor there didn’t want to work with Washington, so Mizell sent him away empty-handed.
—Vulture, 29 Jan. 2024
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Debra Goldman is a die-hard TJX shopper that never leaves a store empty-handed.
—Thomas Lee, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023
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The Rangers came away empty-handed after registering just one shot on goal while Stenlund was in the penalty box.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 26 May 2024
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The empty-handed customers disperse and roam in search of another bakery.
—Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Sep. 2023
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Last year, Colorado came up empty-handed in all categories at the prestigious awards.
—Lily O'Neill, The Denver Post, 10 June 2024
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But that’s nothing compared to Angela Lansbury, who went home empty-handed a whopping 18 times.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 16 June 2023
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The man demanded people’s cash once more before awkwardly turning to leave the shop — empty-handed.
—Tanasia Kenney The Charlotte Observer (tns), al, 10 July 2023
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But instead, Blanchett and her film Tár nearly went home empty-handed, only winning one of the seven awards for which it was nominated.
—Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2023
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Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe didn’t leave St. Petersburg empty-handed.
—Evan Grant, Dallas News, 11 June 2023
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So, some animals resort to stocking up on as much food as possible before the winter days come, to ensure they’re not left empty-handed.
—Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2023
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But there will be business to attend to as the emerging filmmaker awards presentation will take place at 12:15 p.m., meaning some VIPs won’t go home empty-handed.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2024
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Islanders will also be at the mercy of viewers, who vote to determine who gets another shot at love and who leaves the villa heartbroken and empty-handed.
—Josie Howell | Jhowell@al.com, al, 17 July 2023
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Thousands of destitute people rush daily to the distribution points, but many return empty-handed in the evening because there are not enough bags of flour to meet the soaring demand.
—Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2023
Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'empty-handed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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