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
One play later, Carolina walked away empty-handed after Brown came down with Young’s pass intended for tight end Mitchell Evans in the back of the end zone.
—
Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
But kicker Randy Bond missed his second field goal of the half to leave Texas A&M empty-handed.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 16 Nov. 2025
The cups quickly sold out nationwide, with disappointed customers left empty-handed and conspiratorial.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025
Because the games are unregulated, players have no guarantee of fair play or payouts, and customers have reported walking away empty-handed after winning jackpots.
—Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empty-handed
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Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
But kicker Randy Bond missed his second field goal of the half to leave Texas A&M empty-handed.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 16 Nov. 2025
The cups quickly sold out nationwide, with disappointed customers left empty-handed and conspiratorial.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025
Because the games are unregulated, players have no guarantee of fair play or payouts, and customers have reported walking away empty-handed after winning jackpots.
—Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 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 6 Dec. 2025.
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