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empty

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verb

as in to evacuate
to remove the contents of empty the room before starting to paint the ceiling

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective empty contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of empty are blank, vacant, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When might blank be a better fit than empty?

While in some cases nearly identical to empty, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When could vacant be used to replace empty?

The words vacant and empty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

When is vacuous a more appropriate choice than empty?

Although the words vacuous and empty have much in common, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

When would void be a good substitute for empty?

The meanings of void and empty largely overlap; however, void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

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
Adjective
At the corner of West Boulevard and Romare Bearden Drive, the majority of a 3.5-acre lot sits empty. Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2025 Fill an empty 2-liter bottle with warm water from the sink. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
Verb
From there, the development team empties their notebook of all the eccentric ideas that didn’t make the cut the first time around. Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025 After Trump's Warning Downtown Tehran began to empty early Tuesday. Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 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
  • Meanwhile, hungry Palestinians are enduring a catastrophic situation in Gaza.
    WAFAA SHURAFA, Arkansas Online, 29 June 2025
  • That's because tomatoes are notoriously hungry for nutrients, and broccoli will compete for the same selection of nutrients in the soil.
    Steve Bender, Southern Living, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • The most likely candidates for an add would be the 2024 seventh-round pick Hanson or Driskell, but neither had an offensive snap last season outside of the team’s meaningless week 18 game against Denver.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2025
  • Choose one, and land in a place that reduces the number of meaningless games for a conference that plays more Group of Five and FCS cupcakes than any other Power Four league.
    Blake Toppmeyer, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • The incumbents protect the fort until the fort is worthless (cliche cf.
    Forrester, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Ready for a Vogue cover, a spot on 'ET,' more worthless performative nonsense.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Life-saving efforts were unsuccessful and the man was pronounced dead at the scene, said Officer Anthony Gamble, a Sacramento Police Department spokesperson.
    The Sacramento Bee, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2025
  • Attempts to impeach Pashinyan, who came to power in 2018, were unsuccessful.
    Avet Demourian, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • The first Tron had played out as a series of face-offs featuring glowing figures against a black background, replicating the blank environment of an arcade screen.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025
  • Wear it as a blank canvas, or switch things up with a statement belt.
    Catie Pusateri, Glamour, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • The residents of San Antonio, Austin and the surrounding areas have been urged to monitor forecasts, be alert for possible Flood Warnings and be prepared to evacuated if necessary.
    Hannah Parry Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
  • In a press conference on Sunday morning, Kerrville City manager Rice was asked about why summer camps were not evacuated, despite the warning days earlier that a storm could occur.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • Work and plans are changing what was once a barren landscape into a new neighborhood.
    Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2025
  • As the moon progresses through the different phases of the lunar calendar, the sun's light throws new impact sites, barren plains, and swathes of broken landscapes into relief as prime targets for amateur astronomers wielding binoculars and backyard telescopes.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 21 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empty. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

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