Definition of blanknext
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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
Using ‘Grounded’ at Home Treated like a neutral, Grounded can be incorporated practically anywhere throughout the home, whether a kitchen island, cabinetry, built-ins, or blank walls. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Aug. 2026 The familiar last name and near-blank political slate pulled him in. Saige Miller, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
Friends filled in the blanks, painting Roberts, a web developer and clutch early digital-ad adviser, as the Marty Ginsburg to Ocasio-Cortez’s RBG. Michelle Ruiz, Vanity Fair, 14 Aug. 2026 Stewart could have just heard in passing that the former Suits star had returned from the UK and filled in the blanks, or the meeting might have been part of the conversation. Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
Chloe Manning struck out 10 as Plymouth North (9-11) blanked Whitman-Hanson 3-0 in a Patriot League tilt. Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 22 May 2026 Ohtani did not have his best stuff in the Dodgers’ 4-0 blanking over the Padres on Wednesday night. Katie Woo, New York Times, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for blank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blank
Adjective
  • On the day Hoosier fans celebrated last year’s 2025 national championship run inside Memorial Stadium, the stands grew increasingly empty as the season-opener against North Texas wore on.
    Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • That would make the construction of small apartment or condo buildings less expensive, helping developers fill Chicago’s empty lots with units that are also affordable, said Ald.
    Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 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
  • The hierarchy have applied a couple of touch-ups here and there, adding Germany full-back Nathaniel Brown and Ismael Saibari, who had an impressive World Cup up front for Morocco, but this is a near-complete team.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The Lions controlled the game from start to finish, putting in one of their most complete performances of the season while keeping a dangerous San Diego side from threatening.
    Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The National Golf Foundation said in May that the number of female on-course golfers rose 45 percent form 2020 to 2025.
    Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • For the two-part exposé, written in diary form, Steinem assumed a fake identity and accepted a job for several weeks as a bunny.
    Elizabeth Chuck, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • What makes this emptiness more bothersome is the cavalier way Wingard wields the imagery of rogue, militarized killers wreaking havoc on the American landscape.
    Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Bring In Texture Layering décor is a sure way to absorb a room’s visual emptiness.
    Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has denied accusations that the government ignored warnings about an impending mass border crossing from Morocco to the enclave of Ceuta.
    Jack Guy, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The numbers are impossible to ignore, while Boteli’s bustling physical profile — two-footed, quick, and comfortable through the middle or out wide — means that a move to Europe’s top five leagues will soon be on the cards.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Per the current listing, the site is now vacant and shovel-ready for building out a seven-bedroom, seven-plus-bath behemoth, all connected by a private elevator.
    Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The vacant 113,464-square-foot building sits at the northeast corner of Bowes Road and South McLean Boulevard.
    Rick West, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • This Ninth — featuring the Los Angeles Master Chorale and four superb vocal soloists (Saioa Hernández, Tamara Mumford, David Portillo and Ryan Speedo Green) — became Beethoven, alive in the moment, an instrument of utter joy.
    Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Sweet, aromatic, and bubblegum pink, this playful cocktail is the utter definition of fun.
    Bradleigh Mobley, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Blank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blank. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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