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

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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

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

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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

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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

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

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
Entry materials that have been tampered with or altered are void. —Cbs La Staff, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026 Any contracts that allow investor influence would be void under the law. —Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
His departure opens up a big void in the trenches, even with Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown and Turk Wharton returning for the 2026 season. —Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026 The good news for Tennessee is Barnes always gets talent, too, already landing an impressive transfer trio to help fill the void. —Brendan Marks, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
The strategy could make sense with the Cowboys having the fourth-most future cap space (beyond 2026) dedicated to void year money -- or contract money that’s been pushed down the line to maximize current years. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026 Allowing the state law to apply to federal lands would void about a third of federal oil and gas leases in California, the administration said in January. —Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for void
Recent Examples of Synonyms for void
  1. empty
  2. devoid
  3. deserted
  4. gap
  5. emptiness
  6. hole
  7. repeal
  8. invalid
Adjective
  • Holloway added an empty-netter to secure the Blues' win in their home finale.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Yet they were outnumbered more than 2-to-1 by empty seats in what is not even the largest arena on this sprawling campus that sits about a 90-minute drive from downtown Atlanta.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
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
  • That devoid ingredient hindered things exponentially.
    — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2024
Definition of devoid
Adjective
  • As the pandemic set in, Garrison occasionally drove downtown in his Cadillac and met with Claude Kelly, the public defender, in his deserted office.
    — Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Activities include seeing the filming locations of the 2000 movie Cast Away, which follows a FedEx analyst (Hanks) who becomes stranded on a deserted island after his plane crashes, as well as a Captain’s dinner.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of deserted
Noun
  • So what does a $77 rotisserie chicken say about the increasing wealth gap, the disparity between the leisure and working classes, and the overall affordability crisis that certainly irked those who balked at the price?
    — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Republicans tend to view their tax bill more negatively than Democrats, but Gallup’s polling shows that this gap often shrinks when a Republican is president.
    — Linley Sanders, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of gap
Noun
  • 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
Definition of emptiness
Noun
  • Deputies noticed possible bullet holes in a parking sign in front of the business suite, which is near a church.
    — City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Rory McIlroy faded his tee shot into the pine straw, forcing a dramatic finish for his second consecutive Masters title, a final round that saw the Northern Irish golfer press his luck on the final few holes.
    — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of hole
Verb
  • While Washington’s policies drive prices up, our state has lowered costs where the state has jurisdiction — by repealing the grocery tax and capping child care expenses.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
  • In New Zealand, a ban was adopted in 2022 but repealed in 2024.
    — Marie Helweg-Larsen, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of repeal
Adjective
  • Because the price hikes were found to be imposed without providing customers with valid justifications, the court ruled that the new prices are invalid and ordered Netflix to refund affected subscribers.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The ruling makes those increases legally invalid.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of invalid

Phrases Containing void

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voicing
void
voidance
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Cite this Entry

“Void.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/void. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on void

Nglish: Translation of void for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about void

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