1
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
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in meaningless
having no meaning
spare me your empty apologies because if you were truly sorry, you'd change
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in worthless
having no usefulness
an empty task that was assigned just to keep us busy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
all of the leads in the missing-person case were turning up empty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in blank
not expressing any emotion
the speaker looked out at a crowd of empty faces
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 empty
Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
How love rearranges itself and reappears after an empty night or five.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
With the Hurricanes in control, leading 35-3 in the second half, Cristobal emptied the bench and let the program’s future shine.
—Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empty
Adjective
Schools saw classrooms empty overnight.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
How love rearranges itself and reappears after an empty night or five.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
The researchers also modeled gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach empties more slowly, often due to diabetes or viral infections.
—Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
With the Hurricanes in control, leading 35-3 in the second half, Cristobal emptied the bench and let the program’s future shine.
—Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for 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
-
That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Feb. 2024
Adjective
-
The freezing rain then traps lichen under a thick layer of ice where hungry reindeer can’t reach the food, according to Anna Skarin, a reindeer husbandry expert and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences professor.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
-
These facilities, dense with high-performance servers and cooling systems, are among the most power-hungry assets in the country.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
For example, some parents may wonder if these behaviors are related to things like stimming (repetitive movement or sounds), echolalia (meaningless repetition of words), or self-regulation behaviors.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The story unfolds in three distinct chapters as the crisis goes up the chain of command, with each part of the film showing how all our systems and technology are ultimately meaningless in the face of such destructive power.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The energy department said wind and solar capacity is 'worthless' without sunlight or wind.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Overnight, many of those owners saw their wealth erased — their principal assets rendered worthless.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The new complaint was filed 20 years after Burrowes first claimed in an unsuccessful civil case that Combs may have put out a hit on Shakur and Knight.—
Gina Barton,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
-
All have been unsuccessful due to his status as a suspect in multiple violent crimes.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Above her headboard, a small square painting floats on a blank wall like a postage stamp, recalling a cross above the bed.—
Keith Flanagan,
Architectural Digest,
11 Sep. 2025
-
In 2022 and 2024, there were similar blank stretches, but both seasons ended with major wallops to Florida — Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022, and Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
As officers attempted contact, more gunshots were fired from inside the apartment toward officers, who took cover and began securing the scene and evacuating surrounding apartments, according to the release.—
NWA Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The team wasn’t able to completely rule out that TRAPPIST-1e is a barren rock like its inner siblings, however, partly because of interference from its hyperactive star.—
Jonathan O'Callaghan,
Scientific American,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The local Rite Aid was getting ready to shut down, with barren shelves and 75% off all items, while commerce elsewhere in the town of less than 3,000 people wasn’t exactly bustling.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empty. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share