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
But many leave empty-handed and simply seeking the food aid is dangerous and often deadly.
—
Aya Batrawy, NPR, 20 Aug. 2025
The Pitt’s domination meant that the nomination leader — and The Pitt’s main Emmy rival — Severance went home empty-handed.
—Joyce Eng Published, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2025
But if someone who barely finished inside the top 30 after the BMW wins the FedEx Cup, leaving stars like Scheffler and McIlroy empty-handed, another change is not hard predict.
—Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Severance, which earned 27 Emmy nominations this year, went home empty-handed at the TCA Awards despite five nominations.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empty-handed
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Aya Batrawy, NPR, 20 Aug. 2025
The Pitt’s domination meant that the nomination leader — and The Pitt’s main Emmy rival — Severance went home empty-handed.
—Joyce Eng Published, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2025
But if someone who barely finished inside the top 30 after the BMW wins the FedEx Cup, leaving stars like Scheffler and McIlroy empty-handed, another change is not hard predict.
—Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Severance, which earned 27 Emmy nominations this year, went home empty-handed at the TCA Awards despite five nominations.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 20 Aug. 2025
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 Aug. 2025.
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