Definition of blanknext
1
2
3

blank

2 of 3

noun

1
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

2

blank

3 of 3

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
Carriers still have levers, including slower sailing and blank sailings, with slower speeds alone expected to absorb about 1 percentage point of fleet growth both in 2026 and 2027, according to BIMCO. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026 Becerra’s origin story traces back to his youth in Sacramento, and a moment when a high school friend was about to throw out a blank, unused application to Stanford University. — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
This comes at the same time state Republican party leaders are urging voters to rank Republicans on the ballot and leave the Democrats blank. — Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 The shoot involved firing blanks and igniting explosions, theatrics that shocked the film’s residential neighbors and spurred concerns over public safety. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
In a massive joint operation, US Central Command – with tight coordination from US Strategic Command, US Space Command, and the US Space Force – used electromagnetic warfare to blank out a massive area over Iran. — David Szondy july 06, New Atlas, 7 July 2026 The righthander has blanked opponents in 20 of his last 21 outings (through June 11) and is unscored upon in 15 appearances at Tropicana Field this season. — Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for blank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blank
Adjective
  • None of the ballistic missiles that slammed Kyiv overnight into Thursday were intercepted – an indicator that Patriot stocks are still empty or critically low.
    — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Phishing email and empty ring boxes Vardon’s article was primarily about how Knicks assistant coaches did not get rings on Tuesday when the team raised its first league championship banner since 1973.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • In a show mostly devoid of explicit messages, the sentiment surprised me.
    — Max Norman, New Yorker, 25 June 2026
  • Players take on the role of a Ditto capable of mimicking its human trainer, and the Pokémon is thrown into a world devoid of humans.
    — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • Ethiopia’s coffee authority is compiling data, but the process is not complete.
    — Damian Zane, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In practice, that can look like AI pulling together updates from ticketing systems, documentation, source control and incident platforms to give teams a more complete view of progress and risk.
    — Joel Burleson-Davis, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The combination of large-scale pre-training, distributed post-training and feedback-driven learning after deployment forms the basis of GO-3 Preview.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Lewy body dementia is the second-most-common form of degenerative dementia, behind Alzheimer’s disease, Vossel said.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Carson’s account of desire helps explain why this creed leads to two kinds of emptiness.
    — Stacy Keltner, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Such stylish emptiness is daunting, and one doesn’t envy those who are now being encouraged to try it on for size.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • When custodians ignore or slow-walk responses, our FOIA rights diminish.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
  • While Florida’s legislatures have largely ignored a 2014 constitutional amendment voters approved to direct land sales taxes toward conservation, there have been several big land conservation pushes at the state level since then.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The television ad begins with a dark video of an empty swing and the faint sound of children’s voices in the background, then shifts to footage of vacant pews inside a church.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The presidency in this Caribbean nation of 12 million has been vacant since the 2021 assassination of Jovenel Moïse.
    — Widlore Mérancourt, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • These accusations are utter nonsense, concocted from distortions, half-truths and lies.
    — Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The board’s first mission—to pacify and bring lawful governance to Gaza—has been an utter failure.
    — Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Blank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blank. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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