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blank

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noun

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as in form
a piece of paper with information written or to be written on it handed him an employment blank to fill out

Synonyms & Similar Words

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blank

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective blank contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of blank are empty, vacant, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When could empty be used to replace blank?

Although the words empty and blank have much in common, empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When can vacant be used instead of blank?

In some situations, the words vacant and blank are roughly equivalent. However, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

Where would vacuous be a reasonable alternative to blank?

The words vacuous and blank are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

When would void be a good substitute for blank?

The meanings of void and blank largely overlap; however, void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of blank
Adjective
According to Drewry’s container capacity insight online tool, blank sailings from Asia to the West Coast of North America will decrease 28 percent month-on-month from 33 in May to 24 in June. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 16 May 2025 The pop-up will appear, but the screen will be blank. PC Magazine, 15 May 2025
Noun
These puzzles required the participants to fill in the blanks on a series of two-tone images with minimal detail. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 May 2025 Based on the classic ’70s hit, Match Game asks contestants to fill in the blank in a sentence, trying to match the answers of a panel of celebrity guests. Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
After winning Original Screenplay for Get Out, Peele’s follow-ups Us and Nope were both blanked by the Academy. Nate Jones, Vulture, 1 May 2025 Duchene leads the team in points, and Robertson leads the team in goals, and both were blanked in the stat sheet in the game one loss. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blank
Adjective
  • American retailers cried foul and indicated Santa Claus’s sled would be empty.
    Bruce Yandle, Boston Herald, 1 June 2025
  • Companies that are serious about the future of work know that AI implementation without workforce enablement is an empty investment.
    Sol Rashidi, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.
    Michael Abbott, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Delle, devoid for so long from its intrinsic need for social interaction might be filling in the gaps by talking to himself.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 14 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • There’s something about that that felt very whole and complete, because that’s the surprise of it.
    Lauren Coates, Variety, 24 May 2025
  • The Beats Studio Pro are wireless, over-ear headphones that offer a rich, well-balanced sound complete with head-tracking spatial audio.
    Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • But many of those regulatory reversals will actually pile more costs on to individual Americans in the form of higher bank fees, electric and water bills, and health insurance payments, according to experts and government analyses.
    Coral Davenport, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • The Thunder loom as a final test If the Pacers truly are a team of destiny and clinch a Finals berth, then their final exam may come in the form of the league’s most dominant team: the Oklahoma City Thunder.
    Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.
    Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 24 May 2025
  • Escalating matters, Daltrey and Townshend have begun to publicly gripe about each other in the firing’s aftermath, which Devours is ignoring for now.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Sadly, the Skirvin closed its doors in the late '80s and sat vacant for two decades.
    Anne Roderique-Jones, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025
  • While the bureau received an exemption to Trump's hiring freeze and posted job openings this month for temporary workers to conduct survey interviews, more than one-fifth of its leadership positions are vacant, according to a public staff roster released earlier this month.
    Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Even more notable was the string of copycat series Survivor sparked, which caused an utter explosion for the genre as other networks raced to find its very own success story.
    Nick Caruso, TVLine, 27 May 2025
  • His mission was to keep the vibes high in the face of utter hopelessness.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • That's kinda what the economists do in this paper, statistically speaking.
    Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 27 May 2025
  • Store insurance policies, photos of your home and its contents and other important papers in a safe place, in electronic files and/or share copies with family members.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Blank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blank. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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