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
On that note, try to wrap up important conversations and decisions before the moon goes void if possible. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 Delaware’s trust statute says personal property held in trust is not void under the common-law rule against perpetuities, while real property in trust generally follows a 110-year rule. — Michael Gold Cfp, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
The Royals had 10 players sign with FBS programs in December, and the offensive line took a big hit, but transfers will fill those voids. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2026 So that explained the void in the living room, Nidhi thought. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
This raises the risk of accidents or collisions and can void their insurance. — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 Drinking plenty of fluids and voiding regularly is the best way to prevent bacterial overgrowth, which may lead to an infection. — Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for void
Recent Examples of Synonyms for void
  1. null
  2. empty
  3. devoid
  4. deserted
  5. gap
  6. emptiness
  7. hole
  8. repeal
Adjective
  • For one, null results—in this case, findings that are not unusual or revelatory—are still useful.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 4 June 2026
  • However, in the face of an increasing number of null results, most notably in studies published in late 2025, most physicists now agree that this sterile neutrino doesn’t exist.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of null
Adjective
  • After coming up empty all night, the Angels finally broke the scoreless tie in the eighth.
    — Kyle Glaser, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The luxury pods — complete with lie-flat beds and sliding privacy doors — could be entirely off-limits when departure day rolls around, sitting completely empty at 35,000 feet.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 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
  • Among all the far-off places, and all the deserted and unknown cities, among all the lawless, godless regions, the Guayrá was an oasis.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The red-brick Southeast Lighthouse, perched atop the Mohegan Bluffs, is all but deserted.
    — Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of deserted
Noun
  • The gaps are especially consequential in Nizi, one of the most affected health zones in Ituri province, which accounts for about 90% of Congo’s Ebola cases and 80% of its deaths.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Fernandes has never been finished, but there’s a size gap here and Turner is dangerous offensively.
    — Brett Appley, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of gap
Noun
  • The problem isn’t the characterization, since the surgeon is extremely well drawn and Văncică’s performance picks up on both the overall inner emptiness and the yearning for something more.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
  • If the early universe obeyed this rule, our modern cosmos would be devoid of substance, just energy fields rippling eternally through emptiness.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of emptiness
Noun
  • Place them behind the refrigerator and stove, under kitchen and bathroom sinks near pipe entry holes, and in the back corners of pantry shelves.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026
  • While the district took a series of cost-cutting steps — including freezing spending on supplies, hiring and most new contracts, as well as laying off employees — successive budget updates showed the financial hole continuing to deepen.
    — Chaewon Chung August 16, Sacbee.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of hole
Verb
  • After public pushback, state legislators backtracked and repealed some of the requirements.
    — Lauren Sommer, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026
  • If approved by voters, the top-two primary would be repealed and the system would revert to its prior version, insuring every qualified political party could have a candidate advance in the primary to the general election.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 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 22 Aug. 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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