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
Judge Biggs largely agreed with Williamson that Ford should have known her counterclaims were without merit, reasoning that outlook became clear after the court held the five-year contract was void as a matter of law. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 July 2026 Both companies issued formal notices warning that equity transfers conducted without board approval—including via special-purpose vehicles, forward contracts or tokenized instruments—may be void and unrecognized. — Ivan Kan, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Noun
On June 30, Williams and Meir ventured into the void to replace a wrist joint on the space station's Canadarm2 robotic arm that had been malfunctioning. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 7 July 2026 In many cases, volunteers, nonprofits and local organizations have stepped in to fill the void. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Verb
The city gave conditional approval to the incentives on June 22, but that resolution states consent would be rescinded and voided if the city doesn’t receive funds in line with the original agreement. — John Marks, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026 Stern also voided Smith’s 1999-2000 contract with the Timberwolves and by also voiding Smith’s previous Timberwolves contract (1998-99), effectively stripped Smith of his Larry Bird rights. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for void
Recent Examples of Synonyms for void
  1. invalid
  2. empty
  3. devoid
  4. deserted
  5. gap
  6. emptiness
  7. hole
  8. repeal
Adjective
  • He was barred from the ballot paper after Russia’s Supreme Court ruled that more than 9,000 signatures submitted by Nadezhdin’s campaign were invalid — enough to disqualify him.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
  • But in addition to saying the city’s 650-foot rule was invalid, the state also included a threat.
    — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 9 July 2026
Definition of invalid
Adjective
  • Rhaenyra’s first shock as queen is learning of her empty coffers.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • At least one tanker that has sat waiting empty for months near South Africa is already heading towards Hormuz.
    — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026
Definition of empty
Adjective
  • In a show mostly devoid of explicit messages, the sentiment surprised me.
    — Max Norman, New Yorker, 25 June 2026
  • Players take on the role of a Ditto capable of mimicking its human trainer, and the Pokémon is thrown into a world devoid of humans.
    — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
Definition of devoid
Adjective
  • Patty was never seen again because, prosecutors say, Sochor raped and killed her at the side of a deserted road.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • Once all but deserted, the town experienced a revival in 1965, when artists and musicians began to flock there after encouragement from the Yugoslav government.
    — Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
Definition of deserted
Noun
  • That gap means people who don’t have consistent access to healthy food also aren’t getting help.
    — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026
  • The report also estimates that of the 75 million global garment and textile workers, 75 percent of that workforce are women facing a 41 percent wage gap versus the adequate standard of living, as of 2025.
    — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 10 July 2026
Definition of gap
Noun
  • Here, emptiness is not vacancy, but composure, proportion and room for thought.
    — Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Not even foundations are visible, and a long gravel road toward that part of the island leads past occasional farms and vast swaths of emptiness and then, finally, to a muddy riverbank thick with mosquitos.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of emptiness
Noun
  • Mozeliak said the Angels should not consider a trade proposal in isolation, without considering how to flex their major-market muscles to fill whatever hole a trade might create.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The difference between these two measurements gives the exciton binding energy, a key quantity that determines how strongly the electron and hole remain bound together.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
Definition of hole
Verb
  • Its sales tax holiday was officially repealed in 2024, and the state has not held a tax-free holiday since.
    — Courtney Johnston, PC Magazine, 14 July 2026
  • Growing concerns around the risks of social media to young people have reignited a discussion on and around Capitol Hill about whether Section 230 should be reformed or repealed.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Definition of repeal

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 18 Jul. 2026.

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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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