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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
After the Twins were blanked in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader, Woods Richardson gave up a home run to left fielder Steven Kwan to lead off the game. Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025 The Yellow Jackets have blanked their first three opponents and have totaled 189 points in the process. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
The founders envision the store evolving organically as a blank canvas shaped by the neighborhood and scene. Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025 If portions of the page appear blank and an ad blocker is enabled, please disable the ad blocker and refresh the page to ensure full access to the content. Austin Mock, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
Hissrich mentions needing to fill in a lot of the blanks left in that character's story in the books. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025 Underwood helped fill in the blanks, but didn't feel right splitting the credit evenly when James had done most of the work. Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blank
Adjective
  • Current school board President Kareem Moncree-Moffett, longtime member Brandon Craig and Jim Crosset, appointed last year to fill an empty seat left by Mike Moroski, make up the incumbents running for reelection.
    Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Sean Kuraly sealed the win by hitting an empty net with three seconds left in the game.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 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
  • That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2024
Adjective
  • From General Hospital's big wins, to Drew Barrymore's first Emmy, keep scrolling to see which fan-favorites come out on top by viewing the complete list of winners from the 2025 Daytime Emmys.
    Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Then in Game Two came Yoshinobu Yamamoto (three hundred and twenty-five million for twelve years), who gave up a home run to the first batter before pitching a complete game in which no one else got to second base.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There’s also an argument to load up with two Arsenal defenders, given their form and fixtures.
    Holly Shand, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • This one does things a bit differently, though, being of the non-aerosol variety and instead doling out its magic in powder form.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Fall from the emptiness of his promises—and that is not a metaphor.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
  • No special effects were required to trigger Curry's stark drift from amiability to horrifying emptiness.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Premier League football in the 2000s could be dramatic and explosive, but what the nostalgia for that era ignores is the number of dour, sterile games there were, many of them settled by a goal from a set piece.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • At some point, the truth becomes impossible to ignore.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Once considered safe bets for steady rent, many now sit vacant.
    Amachie Ackah, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Currently vacant, the building sits on a 1-acre parcel and includes a loading dock, freight elevator, multiple bathrooms and a main office with lobby.
    Matthew Glowicki, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The fight, an utter farce, lasted 91 seconds, but Trump formed a lasting relationship with the ferocious Tyson.
    Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
  • There weren’t gaping holes or utter structural breakdowns.
    Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blank. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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