1
as in empty
lacking contents that could or should be present
a vacant room that could be converted into a classroom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
looking for vacant land on which to build a house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in blank
not expressing any emotion
the prisoner's vacant and distracted expression
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deserted
left unoccupied or unused
police discovered that vagrants had been sleeping in the vacant warehouse
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 vacant
The vacant plaza, including a former Stop & Shop and a former Bradlees discount store, was demolished in 2012, but progress on attracting new development sputtered in the years afterward.
—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
Fayette County leaders and community partners announced the launch of a comprehensive feasibility study to explore future opportunities for the soon-to-be-vacant Penn State Fayette branch campus near Uniontown.
—
Christopher Derose,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
That’s when Kamal, making a trip to the bank at 63rd Street and Troost Avenue, spotted a vacant building.
—
Jenna Thompson
june 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
The role at Balenciaga has been vacant since last September, when Ludivine Pont stepped down and moved to Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella as CEO.
—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for vacant
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
Fayette County leaders and community partners announced the launch of a comprehensive feasibility study to explore future opportunities for the soon-to-be-vacant Penn State Fayette branch campus near Uniontown.
—
Christopher Derose,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
That’s when Kamal, making a trip to the bank at 63rd Street and Troost Avenue, spotted a vacant building.
—
Jenna Thompson
june 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
The role at Balenciaga has been vacant since last September, when Ludivine Pont stepped down and moved to Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella as CEO.
—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for vacant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacant
Adjective
-
Vines have grown through the fence and barbed wire surrounding a tall art deco building in this city’s downtown, and cigarette holders and empty food tins litter the tall weeds.
-
Inside, there’s an empty dining room.
Adjective
-
And inflation, which had bedeviled the United States and much of the global economy during the 1970s, was remarkably dormant during Greenspan’s chairmanship, something many economists had not thought could occur for so long a period.
-
Some of the microbes may still exist in a dormant state more than 5,000 years after Ötzi's death, as his body sits at the South Tyrol Museum, the experts said.
Adjective
-
Recent photos taken of the portion of the Kennedy Center still hidden by the tarp show the blank space where the sitting president’s name—which was added to the building in December of 2025—used to be.
-
Floor-to-ceiling shelving can turn a blank wall into valuable storage, tall drapery panels can make even the most modest historic structure feel expansive, and oversized artwork can help the eye travel through a room in a way that feels immersive and intentional.
Adjective
-
There are luxurious high-rise towers overlooking the Mekong River, where entire floors are now deserted following police raids that cleared out the illicit operations hidden there.
-
Some areas would remain deserted for over a decade, because of the risk of radiation poisoning.
Adjective
-
The island is devoid of high rises and fast-food restaurants.
-
The play, intentionally devoid of physical male characters, focuses on women's stories, sisterhood, and reclaiming one's life.
Adjective
-
For a team that began the season with off days coming at a premium, a brief stretch with two open dates is a respite from the wear and tear of a long season.
-
His shot diet is already optimized for the league, his frame holds up in physical matchups and his off-ball activity gives coaches a willing piece to weave into screen and handoff actions.
Adjective
-
Mike Braun opened the Speedway Slammer at an Indiana prison, Jim Pillen opened the Cornhusker Clink at a Nebraska work camp, and Jeff Landry opened the Louisiana Lockup in a disused wing of Angola penitentiary.
-
For months, the fighters had been quietly clearing a disused water tunnel just over 2 miles long, deep behind enemy lines in the countryside around Aleppo.
Adjective
-
The fires eviscerated many of the plants and trees in and around the burn zones, leaving behind barren lots and charred swaths of parkland.
-
There are quite a few interesting options this summer, especially compared to last year’s barren goalie landscape that was headlined by veteran backups.
Cite this Entry
“Vacant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacant. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
