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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
The Rockies were blanked for the 18th time, extending their dubious record for most times being shut out in a season. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025 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
Noun
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, 19 Oct. 2025 This year, 34 local artists were turned loose to create unique works of art with blank ceramic skulls as their canvasses. Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
And then there's these little, sort of, smaller efforts to legalize X or Y or Z, fill in the blank. Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025 Why he was executed on day 328, point blank, at the hands of Hamas, hours before approaching Israel Defense Forces would have set him free. Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blank
Adjective
  • When you’re done, simply pop open the large dustbin and empty debris directly into the trash—no tugging out tangled hair or gunk required.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Most retailers sign leases at the beginning of the year, so by midsummer, when Spirit is hunting for empty buildings, there isn’t much competition for whatever’s available.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 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
  • Yamamoto is also the first pitcher since Curt Schilling to throw consecutive complete games in a postseason.
    Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
  • But perhaps one of the most complete.
    Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Pennywise — the iconic, malevolent shapeshifting entity that often takes the form of a dancing clown and was first introduced in Stephen King's 1986 novel It — suddenly and mysteriously appeared on five different continents on Tuesday.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
  • One issue is that hypnosis has long been viewed as a form of entertainment, a stage show with a hypnotist and an audience, which can give viewers a sense that hypnosis is something done to you rather than a process that a person is led through.
    Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The heiress and journalist says her reasoning stems from the emptiness of taking, and the joy of giving.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
  • In between, there was a two-month gap of … emptiness at practices.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Over the summer the FDA convened a panel on the safety of certain antidepressants in pregnancy that tried to cast doubt on this research, ignoring the real harms of not treating depression or anxiety for pregnant people themselves and for their fetuses.
    Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
  • But the writers, like Noah and Joanne, are ignoring that fundamental fork in the road in favor of inane high jinks from the couple and their increasingly irksome friends and family.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • And after signing Christian Braun to a five-year, $125 million rookie extension before the deadline last Monday, Denver is already up against it — with 11 roster spots penciled in and four spots vacant.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Carlsbad has owned the vacant land since at least the 1980s.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • What is surprising is the utter rationalism of her response.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Rather, her photos, documents and collages point to the extreme paucity of surviving evidence and the utter impossibility of a cohesive, factual narrative.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Blank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blank. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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