nothingness

noun

noth·​ing·​ness ˈnə-thiŋ-nəs How to pronounce nothingness (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being nothing: such as
b
: utter insignificance
c
: death
2
: something insignificant or valueless
3

Examples of nothingness in a Sentence

He was staring into nothingness. The sound faded into nothingness.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This would not have been a serious consideration midway through Newcastle’s 2-0 win against struggling, flailing Nottingham Forest — the nothingness of half-time was like a blessed relief — but a stodgy, slow-burning afternoon concluded with Howe’s team comfortable and edging towards dominance. George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025 United Rentals upgraded to a buy from hold at Baird, which sees an acceleration in equipment rentals after a long time of nothingness. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025 Eckhardt’s commentaries on God and scripture are dense and recursive, breaking ideas into component parts, placing them onto higher and lower planes, making hierarchies and triads out of them until eventually becoming something like an investigation into being and nothingness themselves. Jon Raymond august 5, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025 At nearly 60, a life of nothingness without love—what is the point? Greg Norman , David Spunt, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nothingness

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1631, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nothingness was circa 1631

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Cite this Entry

“Nothingness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nothingness. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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