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
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
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Recent Examples of emptiness
Why do people team up around an emptiness, so much spent breath?
—
Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
The scene leaves us wondering about the sudden emptiness.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 25 Apr. 2026
The average kitchen cabinet holds three or four plastic spray bottles in various states of emptiness, each one destined for the recycling bin—or, more likely, the trash.
—Jamie Thilman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
There is no pathos in Sweeney’s delivery, only emptiness.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
Inner emptiness has always been a fixation of Ye.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
While fans would have surely loved to get any of these songs over the past five years in lieu of the chaos of 2020s-era Ye, there’s still an emptiness at the heart of Bully.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2026
March marked the 100th anniversary of a famous building in downtown Detroit that, like numerous others in the city, was lucky to have survived a previous period of emptiness and neglect.
—Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Over time, this creates a sense of emptiness, a lack of purpose and significance.
—Arthur C. Brooks
march 22, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
The scene leaves us wondering about the sudden emptiness.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 25 Apr. 2026
The average kitchen cabinet holds three or four plastic spray bottles in various states of emptiness, each one destined for the recycling bin—or, more likely, the trash.
—Jamie Thilman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
There is no pathos in Sweeney’s delivery, only emptiness.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
Inner emptiness has always been a fixation of Ye.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
While fans would have surely loved to get any of these songs over the past five years in lieu of the chaos of 2020s-era Ye, there’s still an emptiness at the heart of Bully.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2026
March marked the 100th anniversary of a famous building in downtown Detroit that, like numerous others in the city, was lucky to have survived a previous period of emptiness and neglect.
—Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Over time, this creates a sense of emptiness, a lack of purpose and significance.
—Arthur C. Brooks
march 22, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emptiness
Noun
-
Building up a man whose appetite, whose isolation, whose just general hunger to dominate, making that character and then giving him this one lifeline to humanity in Vanessa — that’s all calculated.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
-
The final nail in the coffin may have been Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, a 2012 juggernaut that primed the public for twisty, femme-centric thrillers—a hunger that still hasn’t faded.—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
There’s a big void right now on the team.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Even before Newton, the aether was the name given to the void of space, where the planets and other celestial objects resided.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
After cornerbacks coach Zac Etheridge left UM to take a position on the Arizona Cardinals’ coaching staff, Miami did not immediately fill the vacancy.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2026
-
As for the league’s other coaching vacancy, New Orleans has been deliberating over finalists Darvin Ham (a Bucks associate head coach under Rivers), Steve Hetzel (Brooklyn assistant), Sean Sweeney (San Antonio associate head coach) and Rajon Rondo (a coaching associate with the Bucks).—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
Noun
-
Salmonella infections are commonly associated with diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, according to the CDC.—
Addy Bink,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
-
When ingested, the bacteria can release enzymes that neutralize stomach acids, then from there storm the intestines and can enter the blood.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The terrifying blankness of James Raterman’s military interrogator.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Jothan saw us and shook our hands, as did Michael Ray, but Sun Ra scuffled by with an air of depthless blankness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Again, in a vacuum, this could just be Luke asking himself what Ben would tell him to do.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
-
If damp places are unavoidable, try compression or vacuum bags and a plastic bin with a lid.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
In recent years the appetite for period dramas slowed a little bit.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
7 May 2026
-
For an organization that had no appetite for a long rebuild process, as per the mandate coming right from ownership, the Toronto Maple Leafs couldn’t have received a better boost to a retool than winning the draft lottery on Tuesday night.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
That’s also a long story, which Hokum eventually gets around to filling in the blanks.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Unbeknownst to Lydia, the gun is loaded with blanks.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Emptiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emptiness. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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