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

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
Abrams, meanwhile, puts any questions of his big-screen bona fides to rest, throwing in choppers, explosions, gunplay, void leaps, and a Cruise fast-run that’s exhilaratingly interrupted. —Jason Bailey, Vulture, 24 May 2025 The veteran safety, who turns 27 this month, approaches the final year of his contract (which has a void year in 2026). —The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Noun
Brooks stepped in as a detective on Law & Order in 2022, filling the void left by the departure of Anthony Anderson. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 July 2025 Stein argued that export controls must be very carefully targeted, because businesses from Europe or Japan, or local businesses in China would immediately fill the void left by American companies. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 July 2025
Verb
In that case, TikTok leveled a First Amendment defense in an attempt to void a law requiring it to divest its interests in its Chinese owner, ByteDance. —Mark Temnycky, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025 State sunshine laws also require adequate notice of time and location of meetings, require meetings to be open ― and deems any action at a meeting held in violation of that law void. —Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 2 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
  • Trump had previously signed an executive order on his first day in office announcing that tax deals agreed upon between the Biden administration and the OECD were null.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
  • Even basic tasks, like knowing the password to a legacy system or understanding why a data table has null values, can be governed by undocumented decisions made years ago.
    — Kevin Novak, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Definition of null
Adjective
  • Soft yet sturdy, linen bags like this are durable enough to hold a laptop, books, and other travel essentials, yet they can be tucked into your pocket when empty.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2025
  • 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
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
  • Why The Northern Lights Are Being Seen In The U.S. The imminent potential display of aurora is due to a high-speed stream of solar wind coming from a coronal hole — a gap in the sun’s outer atmosphere, its corona, where solar wind escapes more freely into space.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • But, as in James' case, such plans can have gaps in what care is covered, and more comprehensive private plans may be too expensive.
    — Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 22 July 2025
Definition of gap
Noun
  • Fans can take photos among immersive tableaus from the show, play a larger than life version of Alamo Pong — corn hole but with giant beer cans — and toss rings at Rhinestein’s cowboy boot toss.
    — Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 July 2025
  • And the man with a gruesome hole in his body as a result of necrosis.
    — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Definition of hole
Verb
  • But even in friendly rooms, Democrats are not promising to repeal the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in toto.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 18 July 2025
  • One positive step was to repeal many of the Inflation Reduction Act’s green energy subsidies.
    — Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 17 July 2025
Definition of repeal
Adjective
  • Beijing refused to participate in the proceedings and maintains the award is invalid.
    — Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
  • Perlmutter is now suing the Trump administration, alleging that her firing was invalid; the government maintains that the executive branch has the authority to dismiss her.
    — Kate Knibbs, ArsTechnica, 28 June 2025
Definition of invalid
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
Definition of barren

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 30 Jul. 2025.

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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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