void 1 of 3

adjective

ˈvȯid How to pronounce void (audio)
Definition of voidnext
1
as in null
having no legal or binding force an agreement is void if obtained by force

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2
as in empty
lacking contents that could or should be present a nuclear explosion that would leave the landscape as void and lifeless as one could imagine

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3
as in devoid
utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected entirely void of common sense

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4
as in deserted
left unoccupied or unused the cornfields lay void under a blanket of snow

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void

2 of 3

noun

1
as in gap
an incomplete or deficient area a repressed memory that left a huge void in her recollection of her adolescent years

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2
as in emptiness
empty space those ancient travelers who traversed those vast watery voids between the islands of Oceania

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3
as in hole
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) the client wanted an old-fashioned stone wall and did not want the voids filled in with mortar

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void

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to repeal
to put an end to by formal action the court's decision voided the will the cashier voided the sale when the customer realized his wallet was at home

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2
as in to empty
to remove the contents of the seller has promised to void the house of all furniture

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective void contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of void are blank, empty, vacant, and vacuous. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

When is it sensible to use blank instead of void?

The words blank and void are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When might empty be a better fit than void?

The synonyms empty and void are sometimes interchangeable, but empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When can vacant be used instead of void?

In some situations, the words vacant and void are roughly equivalent. However, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

In what contexts can vacuous take the place of void?

Although the words vacuous and void have much in common, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

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 void
Adjective
The 29-year-old still has two years left on the contract and ESPN, citing unnamed sourcing, reported late last year that Watson and the team agreed to rework his contract to add void years and move his dead salary cap into 2030. —Ben Morse, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025 The void year concept was used on quarterback Zach Wilson. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Noun
Armstead’s departure also creates a leadership void; just look at how fullback Alec Ingold described the five-time Pro Bowler. —C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025 The revocation of this order leaves a significant void, raising concerns about the future of responsible AI practices and underscoring the critical importance of initiatives that focus on authenticating video content and securing data. —Jason Crawforth, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
Hours later, eight federal agencies sued a group of unions in federal court in Texas, asking a judge to declare the union contracts void under Trump's executive order. —Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2025 On her watch, NPR has also voided language pertaining to diversity in a union contract, a notable departure from the D.E.I. focus under her predecessor. —Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for void
Recent Examples of Synonyms for void
  1. null
  2. empty
  3. devoid
  4. gap
  5. hole
  6. repeal
  7. invalid
  8. barren
Adjective
  • To reporters late Sunday evening and later on social media, Trump claimed the pardons are null because Biden had used an autopen rather than sign by hand.
    — Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Does her despondent demeanor and null motivation make Elsa herself an ideal pick to surrender her life?
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of null
Adjective
  • Imagine nearly every seat in Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center − over 20,000 seats − are empty.
    — Kymberlee Montgomery, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
  • On a rainy morning, the restaurant, made up of a few four-seat tables leading to the stage area, was mostly empty.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of 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
Definition of devoid
Noun
  • The median home price is a benchmark for how much a U.S. home costs, which is largely driven by the gap between housing supply and homebuyer demand.
    — Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Over time, the gap between Clifford Davis and the rest of Fort Worth ISD has widened today, where less than 1 in every 10 students is reading and doing math on grade level.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of gap
Noun
  • One obstacle the Bengals face in their quest for postseason play, however, is the outbreak of injuries that started in spring training and have created a significant hole in their offense.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Apr. 2025
  • One interesting depiction of the Last Supper was found above a German coat of arms, which depicted a goblet, a platter, and a round piece of bread with a hole in it, similar to a Jerusalem bagel.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of hole
Verb
  • The program also receives about 5% of its revenue from interest generated by its trust funds and about 4% of its revenue from the tax that Trump wants to repeal.
    — Dennis W. Jansen, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The Maryland Freedom Caucus has repeatedly called these initiatives unworkable and asked to repeal these devastating mandates.
    — Ryan Nawrocki, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of repeal
Adjective
  • Here is one sequence of events: U.S. legislators and the Senate pass a resolution to declare tariffs invalid.
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Judge’s ruling blocking Trump deportations is invalid, argues WSJ column: Dan Huff interview Dan Huff, Senior Fellow at American Path Initiative, elaborates on his recent op-ed that challenges the validity of U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg’s deportation order.
    — The Hill, The Hill, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of invalid
Adjective
  • So, why would an elite striker commit to two potentially barren years?
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The list includes mostly barren Antarctic islands with no imports or exports. 0:51 President Donald Trump's sweeping new set of tariffs impact friend and foe alike, but also on the list are uninhabited islands while some glaring omissions include Russia and Iran.
    — Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of barren

Phrases Containing void

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voicing
void
voidance
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Cite this Entry

“Void.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/void. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on void

Nglish: Translation of void for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about void

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