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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
Noun
The blank shade matches perfectly the white flags the Saints waved when crafting their 2025 roster. Kevin Cusick, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025 In lightweight cotton, neutral silk, or sumptuous cashmere, a long-sleeve becomes a blank canvas for styling. Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
While live-feed viewers were already in the know on some of what went down, the latest episode filled in the blanks on Tuesday. Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025 Students could then be assigned a diagram of the water cycle with missing labels; filling in the blanks on the diagram offers them a hands-on activity to reinforce the information in the quiz. Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blank
Adjective
  • On third-and-9, the Cowboys came out in empty formation with running back Javonte Williams split out wide next to George Pickens.
    Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • This area was mostly empty at the beginning, but the monstrous sounds of the race cars firing up their engines drew a lot of attention.
    Keenan Thompson, Freep.com, 6 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
  • New signals, crosswalks and bike infrastructure could be complete by 2026.
    Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Why does one hard working fan have to buy seven different versions of an album instead of just having all of the songs be on one complete album?
    Bryan West, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The fossil chemicals in question are a special types of steranes, which are the geologically stable form of sterols, like cholesterol, that are found in the cell membranes of complex organisms.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Overseas activists have tried to deliver aid in the past to Gaza but have either been intercepted by Israeli forces or come under some form of attack.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The persistent emptiness of what might have been.
    Aisha Muharrar, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
  • That’s because Horton’s emptiness is felt downtown wide.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The collapse of water security in Iran has been decades in the making and is rooted in a mania for megaprojects—dam building, deep wells, and water transfer schemes—that ignored the fundamentals of hydrology and ecological balance.
    Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Pierre LeBrun’s viewpoint Arpon, no doubt the Hughes contract injects a fresh comparable into the discussion that neither the Canadiens nor the Hutson camp can ignore, though using comparables always seems to be in the eye of the beholder.
    Arpon Basu, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ahead of this school year, MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius moved some central office staff to classroom teaching positions to fill vacant roles.
    Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • After moving to the area with his family in 2022, proprietor Andrew Pearson saw an opportunity to bring a fine dining experience to a vacant restaurant space on Main Street.
    Brennan Long, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ray is the leader of a biker gang and demands utter subservience.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Outside, the scene among the sea of red was one of utter devastation.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blank. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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