emptiness

noun

Definition of emptinessnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in void
empty space there in the vast emptiness of the desert was a long-abandoned jeep

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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

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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 Gone are the extended multi-part suites and intricate guitar workouts, replaced by slight, tender melodies engulfed in a striking emptiness. — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026 Years of waiting for his return were answered with disappointing emptiness, a frustration that could be permanent if McGregor never sets foot in another octagon. — Mark Puleo, New York Times, 12 July 2026 Here, emptiness is not vacancy, but composure, proportion and room for thought. — Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Not even foundations are visible, and a long gravel road toward that part of the island leads past occasional farms and vast swaths of emptiness and then, finally, to a muddy riverbank thick with mosquitos. — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 He was used to being alone without Robin and postretirement but being alone in the interminable stretch of predawn hours was a different sort of emptiness. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026 The condition is marked by intense emotional swings, a chronic feeling of emptiness, and a deep fear of abandonment. — Angela Haupt, Time, 11 June 2026 Interstellar space is unforgivingly vast, but the emptiness has some advantages. — Kai James, The Conversation, 26 May 2026 The Tuesday parking shortage and the Monday emptiness are not anomalies to correct. — Chase Garbarino, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emptiness
  1. hunger
  2. void
  3. vacancy
  4. stomach
  5. blankness
  6. vacuum
  7. appetite
  8. blank
Noun
  • Young people today have a real hunger for interesting, honest stuff that doesn’t feel jury-rigged to make a ton of money.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026
  • That can be useful for eating disorders because people often disconnect from feelings such as hunger, thirst, fatigue and cold.
    — Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of hunger
Noun
  • As the film slowly came together for its October release, Universal was hit by production delays in its summer slate and turned to Wellington to fill the void.
    — Geoffrey Bunting, IndieWire, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The Association of American Medical Colleges projects shortages of 37,800 to 124,000 doctors by 2034, but the real story is who ends up without a doctor — and where capital is rushing in to fill the void.
    — John Samuels, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of void
Noun
  • But a vacancy in Washington is preventing the tribe’s partnership with the gambling giant from moving beyond branding.
    — Savannah Peters, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Succession is frequently treated as a replacement exercise that begins only when an owner wants to sell their business, a CEO announces retirement or an unexpected vacancy occurs.
    — Blazy Flash, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of vacancy
Noun
  • The recalls come after consumers who ate the berries reported symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and/or vomiting.
    — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
  • DreamCloud, our pick for stomach sleepers and hybrid mattresses, is offering up to 60% off mattresses and 66% off bundles for its early Labor Day sale.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of stomach
Noun
  • Not only do the records feature scuff marks and price tags, but poems and doodles—as if the blankness was begging to be filled in.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 May 2026
  • The terrifying blankness of James Raterman’s military interrogator.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of blankness
Noun
  • Securing a flagship robotic vacuum with pressurized stain pre-treatment, active self-washing roller mopping, and a bagless cyclonic dock for under $900 is an exceptional value.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Silence creates a vacuum that will inevitably be filled by opponents, journalists and social media.
    — Alona Karpinska, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of vacuum
Noun
  • The Pentagon’s appetite for startups and emerging tech is growing, and investors are pouncing.
    — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Symptoms of a salmonella infection may include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, headache, nausea, vomiting, and a loss of appetite, according to the CDC.
    — Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of appetite
Noun
  • The first brands in a category to become genuinely legible will be the ones answer engines name while their rivals stay a blank that the model skips.
    — Margareta Petrovic, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But the outcome of this work doesn’t explain the blanks being raised at present, argued Jeremy Siegel, emeritus professor of finance at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of blank

Browse Nearby Words

empties
emptiness
empty
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Cite this Entry

“Emptiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emptiness. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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