1
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present
the refrigerator is empty, so we'll have to eat out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hungry
feeling a desire or need for food
as the long car trip wore on, we all started to feel a little empty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in meaningless
having no meaning
spare me your empty apologies because if you were truly sorry, you'd change
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in worthless
having no usefulness
an empty task that was assigned just to keep us busy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
all of the leads in the missing-person case were turning up empty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in blank
not expressing any emotion
the speaker looked out at a crowd of empty faces
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 18 July 2025
Reese and center Kamilla Cardoso were forced into post-only roles, leading to empty possessions, one-shot trips and child’s play for opposing defenses.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025
Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 9 July 2025
Wilson remained on the floor for more than a minute, and Las Vegas’ entire bench emptied and surrounded her.
—Ben Pickman, New York Times, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for empty
Adjective
Sat on an empty chair was a framed photograph of her alongside one of her favorite flowers, a white lily.
—Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 18 July 2025
Reese and center Kamilla Cardoso were forced into post-only roles, leading to empty possessions, one-shot trips and child’s play for opposing defenses.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025
Verb
The chamber closes and water is emptied, dropping to the level on the opposite side of the dam.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 9 July 2025
Wilson remained on the floor for more than a minute, and Las Vegas’ entire bench emptied and surrounded her.
—Ben Pickman, New York Times, 9 July 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
-
Milwaukee Brewers fans are hungry for a 12th consecutive victory -- and a free George Webb’s burger.—
Sofia Joseph,
jsonline.com,
22 July 2025
-
But the scene also looms large for young Ruth: Maria’s earrings represent the mysterious world of adults, one that Ruth is hungry to learn more about.—
Bekah Waalkes,
The Atlantic,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
According to Tom's Hardware, that drive also had the ability to automatically overwrite the contents of your storage with meaningless code so your original data couldn't be retrieved.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
15 July 2025
-
At the same time, begin to appreciate moments of meaningless time.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Otherwise their responses to art would be worthless.—
Charlotte Runcie
July 10,
Literary Hub,
10 July 2025
-
The incumbents protect the fort until the fort is worthless (cliche cf.—
Forrester,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
Although a request for proposals for a new company to run the facility drew interest from at least two companies, neither ended up completing the process to submit a proposal and efforts to reach out to other companies have so far been unsuccessful, Hyde said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 July 2025
-
Roughly 45 seconds later, Van der Walt tried to add hot air to the envelope and close the rapid deflation valve but was unsuccessful, according to the report.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
What once sat blank and unmoving begins to flow and creak and jerk beneath its own weight.—
Laura Poppick
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
-
Pinterest is flooded with soft-launch ideas: two plates on the dinner table, two silhouettes cast against a blank wall, two pairs of shoes sitting next to one another.—
Kameryn Griesser,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
20 July 2025
-
The likely, lasting impacts to humans are already apparent: the loss of a beloved, historic lodge; park employee housing burned; campers and business owners evacuated from the vicinity; more than 600 firefighting personnel working to contain the destruction.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
Then there is Canada and Greenland’s beef over the uninhabited Hans Island, a barren spit in the Kennedy Channel.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
25 July 2025
-
Brown, barren, patchy spots in your lawn can be unsightly.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empty. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share