coming up empty

phrase

present participle of come up empty
as in failing
to be unsuccessful We searched for a viable candidate but came up empty.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coming up empty
  1. falling short
  2. falling flat
Phrase
  • Orlando finishes Phase One with five points, falling short of advancing in one of the top four spots.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But his attempts to get in touch with the company keep falling short.
    — Barry Levitt, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of falling short
Phrase
  • But the execution was dead on arrival, with the whole thing falling flat on its face.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The trick to making the formula feel dynamic is mixing materials, as a blend of textures helps prevent your ensemble from falling flat.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Glamour, 10 July 2026
Definition of falling flat
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.

Browse Nearby Words

coming up
coming up empty
coming up with
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coming up empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coming%20up%20empty. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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