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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vacant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of vacant are blank, empty, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

When can blank be used instead of vacant?

While in some cases nearly identical to vacant, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When would empty be a good substitute for vacant?

In some situations, the words empty and vacant are roughly equivalent. However, empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When is vacuous a more appropriate choice than vacant?

While the synonyms vacuous and vacant are close in meaning, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

When is it sensible to use void instead of vacant?

The words void and vacant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 vacant Three days later, Fletcher’s body was found behind a vacant complex 20 minutes from where she was abducted. Karina Tsui, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024 Adams and Williams seek to take the seat left vacant by term-limited Freeman. Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024 In California, San Francisco and Berkeley approved taxes on vacant properties in 2022. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2024 The roughly 165,000-square-foot warehouse store will rest on the site of several vacant Westgate stores, including the former Orchard Supply Hardware. Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vacant 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacant
Adjective
  • To the empty wok, add the remaining vegetable oil, the garlic, ginger, and scallions and stir-fry until fragrant, 30–60 seconds.
    Lois Goh, Saveur, 13 Nov. 2024
  • There were cigarettes on the bar, empty glasses on the back tables, and only a dozen guests left at Sid Gold’s Request Room.
    Curbed Staff, Curbed, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The case was dormant until last year, when agents with Wisconsin's Justice Department began working with the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory to identify the remains.
    Doha Madani, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
  • Most went dormant in August and September, then the rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene made their way up here.
    Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Six world-class interior designers were given a blank canvas to create their interiors, and the results are strikingly different, from Luca Dini’s waterfall through the superyacht’s two-level beach club to the large picture windows on the interior salon by Francois Zuretti.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Seconds later, the clown pulled out a gun and shot Warren in the mouth at point blank range.
    KC Baker, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
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
Adjective
  • The biggest problem with the bullpen approach is that the more pitchers a team uses in a game, the chances multiply of at least one of them having an off night.
    Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2024
  • The key to success is to switch your attention from keyword optimization to offering genuine value through interactive features, user-centric content and effective off-page methods.
    Adhip Ray, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • McQueen spends half an hour dispassionately showing us the grimness of HMP Maze, a Troubles-era warehouse for enemies of the British state on a disused airfield.
    IndieWire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024
  • In his first five night-shift stints as watchman at a disused ’80s amusement park/arcade mall — Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza Place — Mike stares glaze-eyed at security monitors, then drifts into violent 3-D incidents, His circumstance incarnates the hell that Morrissey sings about.
    Armond White, National Review, 1 Nov. 2023
Adjective
  • Striking images from the Sahara Desert show large lakes etched into rolling sand dunes after one of the most arid, barren places in the world was hit with its first floods in decades.
    Laura Paddison, CNN, 14 Oct. 2024
  • The result is a barren playa, wide swaths of sand and earth.
    Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • The jacket’s material comes from 12-year-old cloth sourced from a Scottish mill, excess fabric that was stored unused in a warehouse.
    John Kell, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
  • According to a probable cause affidavit that was unsealed in 2022, investigators tied Allen to the scene with an unused .40 caliber round that was found next to German and Williams’ bodies.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near vacant

Cite this Entry

“Vacant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacant. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on vacant

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