empty-handed
adjective
emp·ty-hand·ed
ˌem(p)-tē-ˈhan-dəd 
1
: having or bringing nothing
2
: having acquired or gained nothing
came back empty-handed
Examples of empty-handed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
American Mac Forehand took silver while Matej Svancer of Austria earned bronze and Ruud was left empty-handed at the event under sometimes heavy snow at the Livigno alpine resort.
—
Reuters, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
The last time was in 2024, when the Academy Award went to Poor Things, which was up for two of the MUAHS awards but went home empty-handed.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
Black has sometimes driven for miles to a particular cemetery only to find a funeral under way, obliging him to leave empty-handed.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The burglars left empty-handed in a dark sport-utility vehicle headed northwest.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for empty-handed
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Reuters, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
The last time was in 2024, when the Academy Award went to Poor Things, which was up for two of the MUAHS awards but went home empty-handed.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
Black has sometimes driven for miles to a particular cemetery only to find a funeral under way, obliging him to leave empty-handed.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The burglars left empty-handed in a dark sport-utility vehicle headed northwest.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for empty-handed
Cite this Entry
“Empty-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empty-handed. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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