void 1 of 3

adjective

ˈvȯid How to pronounce void (audio)
Definition of voidnext
1
as in null
having no legal or binding force an agreement is void if obtained by force

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in empty
lacking contents that could or should be present a nuclear explosion that would leave the landscape as void and lifeless as one could imagine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in devoid
utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected entirely void of common sense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deserted
left unoccupied or unused the cornfields lay void under a blanket of snow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

void

2 of 3

noun

1
as in gap
an incomplete or deficient area a repressed memory that left a huge void in her recollection of her adolescent years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in emptiness
empty space those ancient travelers who traversed those vast watery voids between the islands of Oceania

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hole
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) the client wanted an old-fashioned stone wall and did not want the voids filled in with mortar

Synonyms & Similar Words

void

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to repeal
to put an end to by formal action the court's decision voided the will the cashier voided the sale when the customer realized his wallet was at home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to empty
to remove the contents of the seller has promised to void the house of all furniture

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective void contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of void are blank, empty, vacant, and vacuous. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

When is it sensible to use blank instead of void?

The words blank and void are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When might empty be a better fit than void?

The synonyms empty and void are sometimes interchangeable, but empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When can vacant be used instead of void?

In some situations, the words vacant and void are roughly equivalent. However, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

In what contexts can vacuous take the place of void?

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

a vacuous facial expression

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 void
Adjective
The bill also contains provisions that any agreement to the contrary, other than a collective bargaining agreement, would be void. —Dale Nelson, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025 If the player does not take a snap for any NFL team in the stated regular season, bets are void. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
But back then, Chaotic attempted to fill a void for the millions of people interested in the ongoings of Spears’s life. —Krystie Lee Yandoli, Glamour, 7 Aug. 2025 Most successfully, the series filled the Samantha void with sultry, cigarette-smoking real estate agent Seema Patel (Sarita Choudhury), easily the strongest of the new characters. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
If the Raiders can void those guarantees, Wilkins could be out of the Giants’ price range. —Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 July 2025 Hippler also can’t void the plea deal so that Kohberger could face the death penalty. —Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for void
Recent Examples of Synonyms for void
  1. null
  2. empty
  3. devoid
  4. gap
  5. hole
  6. repeal
  7. invalid
  8. barren
Adjective
  • Shut out, Morales campaigns for a null vote In late July, the former president began actively campaigning for the invalid vote.
    — Mollie J. Cohen, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Morales, barred from running due to term limits and facing an arrest warrant on statutory rape charges, urged supporters to cast null ballots in protest.
    — Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Definition of null
Adjective
  • Folks fill empty totes and baskets with loaves of the traditional bread ($15), and for good reason.
    — Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • There are women who shout and shout at the empty air.
    — Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Definition of 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
Definition of devoid
Noun
  • Both players appeared to be OK. — ILB Jordyn Brooks shot a gap very nicely for a third-down TFL on drive that started with Lions backed up and pushing forward on first and second down.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
  • In the middle lies a gap between strategy and execution.
    — Matt Emma, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
Definition of gap
Noun
  • One Netherlands international, according to the police, allowed his Porsche to be used by criminals and the car ended up riddled with bullet holes.
    — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Gordon, hitting holes hard with his physical running style, sparked the run game in the second half.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2025
Definition of hole
Verb
  • Another reason this increase might not last for the full 400 years? GOP lawmakers are trying to repeal the law, an effort that could succeed if a Republican replaces Evers as governor and Republicans maintain legislative control.
    — Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • His platform includes slashing government bureaucracy, repealing pensions and reducing water costs.
    — Veronica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
Definition of repeal
Adjective
  • The board’s bylaws state only the chair or someone authorized by the chair can call a meeting, so any decisions made during that meeting and subsequent meetings held after are invalid, the injunction states.
    — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
  • What To Know In an August 1 judicial interpretation, China's Supreme People's Court announced that employment contracts that exclude social-insurance contributions are invalid.
    — Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Definition of invalid
Adjective
  • For the visual effects supervisors who were tasked with bringing the arctic horrors to life, their challenge was adding depth and value to a barren landscape.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Deep in the interior lies Askja, a vast volcanic caldera surrounded by a barren lava desert.
    — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Definition of barren

Phrases Containing void

Browse Nearby Words

voicing
void
voidance
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Void.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/void. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on void

Nglish: Translation of void for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about void

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Words That Turned 100 in 2025

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

12 Words Whose History Will Surprise You
See More

Popular

See More

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All