nothingness

noun

noth·​ing·​ness ˈnə-thiŋ-nəs 

1

: the quality or state of being nothing: such as

a

: nonexistence

b

: utter insignificance

c

: death

2

: something insignificant or valueless

3

: void, emptiness

Synonyms

• death
• dead
• deadness
• mortality

Examples of nothingness in a Sentence

He was staring into nothingness.

The sound faded into nothingness.

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Then, after 33 billion years of existence, the universe will squash itself into nothingness. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 Oct. 2025

The dichotomy in Las Casas’s narration is now birth and death, being and nothingness: Las Casas baptized the man and performed last rites in the same breath. —Greg Grandin september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1631, in the meaning defined at sense 1