1
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present
the refrigerator is empty, so we'll have to eat out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hungry
feeling a desire or need for food
as the long car trip wore on, we all started to feel a little empty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in meaningless
having no meaning
spare me your empty apologies because if you were truly sorry, you'd change
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in worthless
having no usefulness
an empty task that was assigned just to keep us busy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
all of the leads in the missing-person case were turning up empty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in blank
not expressing any emotion
the speaker looked out at a crowd of empty faces
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 empty
Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 30 May 2025
The restaurant’s hand-washing facilities were blocked by crates, a cart and cases, and a paper towel dispenser was empty.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 23 May 2025
The ejection occurred in the third inning, forcing the Red Sox to empty their bullpen.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for empty
Adjective
Jackman and Furness purchased an empty 2.5-acre waterfront plot for $3.5 million in 2015 and spent the next six years building a custom Long Island retreat with three bedrooms, five bathrooms, a guest house and access to a private beach.
—Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 30 May 2025
The restaurant’s hand-washing facilities were blocked by crates, a cart and cases, and a paper towel dispenser was empty.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
Verb
Rounding it all out: a lengthy double-gated driveway that passes between a pair of matching 2,000-square-foot carriage houses and over a bridge before emptying out at a circular motor court, along with an eight-car garage complemented by a subterranean six-car garage for all your toys.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 23 May 2025
The ejection occurred in the third inning, forcing the Red Sox to empty their bullpen.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for empty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for empty
Adjective
-
Banking has become functionally correct but emotionally devoid, with the industry swimming in a sea of sameness.—
Michael Abbott,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Delle, devoid for so long from its intrinsic need for social interaction might be filling in the gaps by talking to himself.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
14 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
But after the county launched an aggressive public campaign to educate residents about securing garbage containers that attract hungry bears with no access to a natural food supply, incident reports plummeted.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 May 2025
-
The bucket stretched the Pacers’ lead to 10 with 2:30 remaining, a cushion just enough to keep the hungry Knicks away.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
The trouble is that in and of themselves, trade deficits (or surpluses) are meaningless measures of a nation’s economic health.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
-
Ever since Top Gun: Maverick, Cruise’s films have imposed a sense of duty on audiences — a different purpose than other meaningless, direct-to-streaming content with zero purpose.—
Armond White,
National Review,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
Even as Amtrak officials were sitting with Hochul yesterday and offering her more worthless promises, the Amtrak Board of Directors was holding a rare public session.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
23 May 2025
-
At the same time, a blanket rule against nationwide injunctions would render many court orders worthless.—
Ian Millhiser,
Vox,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
Officials said he was found semiconscious on the River Trail on June 30 but resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
-
Efforts to refloat the ship during high tide on Thursday were unsuccessful.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
But with a blank canvas on which to build a new version of Dedeaux Field, there was some upside.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2025
-
The Yankees’ bullpen also kept the Rangers off the board, as Mark Leiter Jr., Devin Williams and Luke Weaver all threw blank innings in the low-scoring affair.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
1 June 2025
-
More than 60 residents were evacuated after Irma. Spring Oaks resident Alan Wyland has already started stockpiling sandbags and other items in preparation for this year’s hurricane season.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 June 2025
Adjective
-
The festival was deliberately planned for the barren weeks in June after college students left and before the summer concert and festival season kicked in.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
25 May 2025
-
The Bureau’s new research station on Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano, with its high altitude and barren landscape, would prove to be the ideal collection spot.—
Ashley Braun,
Smithsonian Magazine,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empty. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share