1
as in hunger
a need or desire for food
the emptiness that usually sets in about three o'clock in the afternoon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in void
empty space
there in the vast emptiness of the desert was a long-abandoned jeep
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in vacancy
the quality or state of being empty
the emptiness of the interior of the isolated house just made it seem all the more eerie
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 emptiness
And by the time Bob finally reaches the border of that emptiness, the actor playing him no longer feels the least bit absent from himself.
—
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 26 Sep. 2025
Despite its emptiness, Termessos is easy to reach.
—Barry Neild, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
When people are directed to fill their spiritual emptiness with rage, the social outcome is predictably tragic.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Drowning in an indescribable emptiness, Day chases Dusk to the throne room and beats the ever-living hell out of him, but Dusk has something Day doesn’t — nanites.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
The emptiness gives her space to think.
—Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2025
Voisin — who played another hero of a French classic in Xavier Giannoli’s 2021 adaptation of Balzac’s Lost Illusions — carries the entire drama as a lost soul whose physical beauty (perfect jawline, killer abs) can hardly conceal the emptiness inside of him.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
When Scout died, Watson was left grappling with an emptiness that followed her home each day.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In such moments, silence is not considered emptiness at all.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 26 Sep. 2025
Despite its emptiness, Termessos is easy to reach.
—Barry Neild, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
When people are directed to fill their spiritual emptiness with rage, the social outcome is predictably tragic.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Drowning in an indescribable emptiness, Day chases Dusk to the throne room and beats the ever-living hell out of him, but Dusk has something Day doesn’t — nanites.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
The emptiness gives her space to think.
—Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2025
Voisin — who played another hero of a French classic in Xavier Giannoli’s 2021 adaptation of Balzac’s Lost Illusions — carries the entire drama as a lost soul whose physical beauty (perfect jawline, killer abs) can hardly conceal the emptiness inside of him.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
When Scout died, Watson was left grappling with an emptiness that followed her home each day.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In such moments, silence is not considered emptiness at all.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emptiness
Noun
-
Throws out hunger and with it, her period, which never returned.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Then, you guys are partnering with the Freestore Foodbank in October to fight childhood hunger?—
David Wysong,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While Herro is out, the Heat will need to rely on newcomer Norman Powell to help fill the void.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
-
The challenge for states, communities and families, if one of these budgets becomes a reality, will be filling that funding void, especially since the federal government has always focused its dollars on helping students and schools that need it the most.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Our education team covers a wide range of topics, from lead paint in schools to teacher vacancies.—
Greg Borowski,
jsonline.com,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Rising vacancy rates in housing, office space With hundreds of new housing units in the downtown market, the average monthly rent has leveled off around $1,470 after years of steep increases.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The cause was classified as norovirus, a contagious virus that causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and is commonly known as the stomach flu.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Adair, still in handcuffs, is then picked up from the wheelchair by several deputies and placed on his stomach on the bottom bunk in his cell, the KBI said.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His beam wavered on a patch of blankness, or the corner of an amp, and then began to roam the stage in desperation, scanning here and scanning there—until, from the darkness, the voice of Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden’s singer, was heard.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
-
This can leave a certain blankness at the film’s center, but Seyfried’s performance ably fills in the emotional details.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But most important, its vacuum design is quiet, easy to use, and eliminates mess.—
Christine Persaud,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Pull appliances out from the wall and vacuum and mop underneath.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While global data center appetite is strong, the pace and scale of these projects are straining traditional lenders, said the panelists.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The round would mark one of Europe’s largest recent AI financings and underscores investor appetite for next-generation visual models.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Toklas filled in the blanks for him, sometimes unwittingly.—
Judith Thurman,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Hissrich mentions needing to fill in a lot of the blanks left in that character's story in the books.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Emptiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emptiness. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share