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Definition of blanknext
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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
To get a feel of how the fragrances will interact together, spray them on a fragrance blotter or a blank sheet of paper first before applying them to your skin. Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 15 June 2026 Most recently, a cousin who has the lion and sun flag prominently hanging in his home clashed with her uncle, who supports a blank tricolor flag without the emblem of the pre-revolutionary flag or the Islamic messaging of the current flag. Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
Noun
The site may ask you to connect with a chat bot to fill in any blanks in your application. Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026 Thoughts race, filling in the blanks with worst-case scenarios. Bybryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Verb
City are among the teams who blank in Gameweek 31, meaning selling Haaland could align well with longer-term planning, but only if his injury is confirmed as serious. Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026 It's become common practice for creatives to blank out their social media presences before announcing a new project, but Bad Bunny is already in the midst of a global tour that extends through July. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for blank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blank
Adjective
  • If a circle is empty, for example, players must learn to move their hands in the opposite direction to complete that task.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • No smoke wafting through the parking lots, which included multiple empty sections.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • Her outfit was devoid of any other color.
    Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 15 June 2026
  • This is a story devoid of childlike wonder, just the horrific evil men are capable of and the small acts of grace found in unspeakable circumstances.
    Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly, 13 June 2026
Adjective
  • Janet agreed to pay over $8,600 in restitution and complete 150 hours of community service.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
  • But the call of the stage was so strong that Abdul-Mateen II made a complete career change in his late 20s.
    Carita Rizzo, Deadline, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • There weren’t the same forms of communication as there are today.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • Social rescue arrives in the form of outgoing cool girl Sonya (Molloy), who takes a shine to Coley after a chance encounter in a coffee shop, and invites her to join her clique.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • The condition is marked by intense emotional swings, a chronic feeling of emptiness, and a deep fear of abandonment.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 11 June 2026
  • Interstellar space is unforgivingly vast, but the emptiness has some advantages.
    Kai James, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • Beloved actor Ron Perlman fully leans into trying to make the contestants fail this task by forcing eye contact, asking them polite questions, rebuking their bad manners in ignoring him, and even doggedly getting into their personal space.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026
  • As Coley and Sonya begin arguing about a mutual attraction that’s become impossible to ignore, their dynamic finally grows some teeth.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • Detroit fire crews extinguished the fire at the vacant home, and no injuries were reported.
    Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 18 June 2026
  • Like so many other places in regional Britain, its mines and mills have been replaced by retail and service industry jobs; its local stores now vape shops or vacant altogether.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • The battle that follows — a muddy and mean scrum — is even more ghastly, partly for its utter pointlessness.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 June 2026
  • All to the utter indifference of a Hollywood that hadn’t even bothered to hear of him.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Blank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blank. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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