EMPTY Synonyms: 315 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

empty 1 of 2

adjective

ˈem(p)-tē

Definition of empty next

as in devoid

lacking contents that could or should be present the refrigerator is empty, so we'll have to eat out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hungry

feeling a desire or need for food as the long car trip wore on, we all started to feel a little empty

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as in meaningless

having no meaning spare me your empty apologies because if you were truly sorry, you'd change

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as in worthless

having no usefulness an empty task that was assigned just to keep us busy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in unsuccessful

producing no results all of the leads in the missing-person case were turning up empty

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as in blank

not expressing any emotion the speaker looked out at a crowd of empty faces

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empty

2 of 2

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

fill
load

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

Examples 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

There was still plenty of work left to do, though, evidenced by the large swaths of empty seats throughout the arena. —

Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024 Without real-time analytics, companies risk empty shelves, missed delivery windows, and losing customers to more reliable competitors. —

Gary Drenik, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

Israel’s bombardment has uprooted 1 of every 5 people in Lebanon, emptying out much of Lebanon’s Shiite heartlands and destroying infrastructure — according to Lebanese leaders, U.N. officials and experts — that preclude residents’ timely return. —

Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024 Philadelphia operates 34 ballot drop boxes, which are emptied daily and twice on Election Day by election workers. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for empty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for empty

Adjective

The medication has hallucinogenic effects that alter the perception of sight and sound and cause users to feel devoid from pain and out of control of their surroundings.

Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2023
That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.

Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2024