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empty

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verb

as in to evacuate
to remove the contents of empty the room before starting to paint the ceiling

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective empty contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of empty are blank, vacant, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When might blank be a better fit than empty?

While in some cases nearly identical to empty, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When could vacant be used to replace empty?

The words vacant and empty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

When is vacuous a more appropriate choice than empty?

Although the words vacuous and empty have much in common, 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 empty?

The meanings of void and empty 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 empty
Adjective
There were a few other passengers in my train car but still a lot of empty seats. Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025 Troopers found three empty bottles of Fireball whiskey shooters on the roadway along the vehicle’s trajectory. Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
Trouble emptying the bladder completely. Jenna Anderson, Health, 18 Sep. 2025 For Prichard, emptying the shelters is as much a part of the mission as increasing access to police dogs. Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for empty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for empty
Adjective
  • Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.
    Michael Abbott, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2024
Adjective
  • Bowling at run-hungry batters on largely unforgiving pitches in vast, cacophonous stadiums with huge outfields in front of a partisan and at times baying crowd — plenty of English bowlers have found bowling in Australia akin to a Sisyphean task.
    James Wallace, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Garten rolls up the edges and bakes it all together for 30 minutes, ending with not one, but two beautiful pear tarts to serve a hungry crowd.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Negotiations are meaningless unless Putin begins to pay a price in tougher economic sanctions and greater military support to Ukraine.
    Oleksandra Matviichuk, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • These meaningless phrases could describe any coach on the planet.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Then, the company would have to prove that its investments have been made largely worthless because of tariffs.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Even as tutor modes are refined and improved, students have to actively select that mode and, for now, also have to play along, deftly providing context and guiding the chatbot away from worthless, low-level questions or sycophancy.
    Brian W. Stone, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Russell went on to be reelected in 2019, leaving office nearly a year before his term was up after an unsuccessful run for Congress.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
  • While her last two presidential runs have been unsuccessful, her 2024 bid came with just over three months to campaign.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The opening splash screen outlines all the different features available to you, from starting with a blank canvas to recording yourself through your webcam.
    David Nield, Popular Science, 18 Sep. 2025
  • In the General Tab there is a blank space under Launch Options.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Nearly 1,900 households, accounting for about 6,000 people, were told to evacuate swiftly.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • At the time, only a handful of the university’s buildings were completed and the barren campus lacked landscaping.
    Ron Hasse, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
  • One of vultures in a barren tree.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empty. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.

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