EMPTYING Synonyms: 18 Similar and Opposite Words

emptying

verb

present participle of empty

as in clearing

to remove the contents of empty the room before starting to paint the ceiling

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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 emptying Cringe names our ethical recognition of the stakes of emptying out these words. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Rioters clashed with police, looted stores and set property on fire in central Milan on Saturday, emptying Piazza del Duomo and a luxury shopping arcade when the area would usually be teeming with shoppers. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 The show and encore, which take up a little over an hour, are bookended by scenes of concertgoers filling the room and then emptying it. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 The high school gymnasium that held the event was packed, though crowds began emptying out about halfway through the 90-minute rally. — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 With smarter obstacle avoidance, self-emptying docks, and mopping pads that actually scrub, today’s cleaning bots deliver an instant quality-of-life upgrade. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026 Palencia said the gunman carried two magazines for the weapon and reloaded them after emptying the first one before turning the gun at himself. — CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026 Dieterich walked through the kitchen and exited the building through an unlocked door used by inmates assigned to kitchen duties, including emptying garbage outside. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026 Emigration has also hollowed out entire professions, emptying hospitals of health workers, schools of teachers, and even churches of priests and pastors, on a scale that Cubans have never seen before. — Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for emptying

Verb

As the trend grows, the focus is shifting from simply clearing the counters to making everything behind the cabinet doors work better too.

— Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2026
City crews have also been clearing more than 31,000 catch basins and drainage systems and inspecting and reinforcing vulnerable hillsides and burn areas, including Pacific Palisades, Bass said in a statement.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of clearing

Verb

Kapszukiewicz thanked all community agencies that helped respond to the event, including those who assisted in evacuating residents and setting up shelters.

— Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026
Watching the Taliban regain power called into question the meaning of their sacrifice, and the government’s difficulty evacuating Afghan comrades who had fought with them felt like a betrayal.

— Azadeh Moaveni, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of evacuating

Verb

That means removing plants, mud and debris from boats, trailers and equipment; draining water from compartments; and allowing equipment to dry completely.

— Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Secretly draining shared savings or hiding major debt are obvious betrayals.

— Jenna Ryu, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of draining

Verb

Winning here is tantamount to a lifetime appointment; since 1964, just three people have held the seat Pelosi is vacating.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
With Hageman vacating her seat, nine Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination and two Democrats are competing for their nomination.

— Caroline Linton, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of vacating

Verb

Some voting laws have changed in Ohio since 2022, including the state eliminating its grace period for receiving mail ballots, a change that forces voters to return those ballots earlier.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Future vehicles will also be able to check their electrical connections during assembly, potentially eliminating a final electrical validation step.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of eliminating

Browse Nearby Words

empty-headed

emptying

empyreal

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“Emptying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emptying. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of emptying

verb

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