blank 1 of 3

adjective

ˈblaŋk How to pronounce blank (audio)
Definition of blanknext
1
as in empty
not expressing any emotion the teacher knew no one was paying attention when she looked out and saw all those blank faces

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present the page of instructions actually turned out to be blank

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in complete
having no exceptions or restrictions his blank refusal to even consider my request for an unpaid leave of absence

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blank

2 of 3

noun

1
as in form
a piece of paper with information written or to be written on it handed him an employment blank to fill out

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2
as in emptiness
empty space a blank on the form for the patient's insurance policy number

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blank

3 of 3

verb

as in to ignore

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective blank contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of blank are empty, vacant, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When could empty be used to replace blank?

Although the words empty and blank have much in common, empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When can vacant be used instead of blank?

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

a vacant apartment

Where would vacuous be a reasonable alternative to blank?

The words vacuous and blank are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

When would void be a good substitute for blank?

The meanings of void and blank largely overlap; however, void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

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 blank
Adjective
It's intended to simplify the alert with more blank space and a smaller font. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025 This season, it has been updated in an off-white leather, providing an ideal blank canvas waiting to be filled with your essentials. —Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2025
Noun
The superior second act does fill in some of the blanks, but there are questions left unanswered and motivations unexplained. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025 The number of shooters helped to ensure one of the bullets was fatal, although one firearm was also fed a blank so that each shooter was uncertain who was directly responsible for the death, officials said. —Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
While the lineup has improved in terms of balance and defensive structure, the Yankees saw their bats blanked by a Dodgers team that entered the World Series with two and a half starting pitchers on their roster. —Tyler Small, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 West Ham looked to be getting back on track after posting shutout victories against Arsenal (1-0) and Leicester City (2-0) before being blanked in their last match against Newcastle United (1-0). —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blank
  1. empty
  2. devoid
  3. complete
  4. form
  5. ignore
  6. vacant
  7. utter
  8. paper
Adjective
  • These bottles can be flattened when empty, conserving valuable luggage space and expanded when needed.
    — Jené Luciani Sena, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • But Smith is quick to point out that the facility won’t just sit empty between private driving days.
    — Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 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
Adjective
  • Factoring in Cunningham working himself back into a complete All-Star, playoff-caliber level only adds weight to these games.
    — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Engaging with this data, these states are able to create a much more complete picture of what maternal health care looks like.
    — Antonio Reynoso, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of complete
Noun
  • Computer vision is better described as a form of information management and prediction, as configurations of data with which probabilistic applications have been made, based on human instructions of varying degrees of clarity or specificity.
    — Sonja Drimmer, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2025
  • While Margie’s face has appeared on some editions sold exclusively at the distillery, the largest large scale release the brand has done with a female form is a collaboration with Gayle Kabaker which buyers can personalize with the names of women in their lives who have inspired them.
    — Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of form
Verb
  • Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.
    — Brenda Stolyar, Wired News, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Pedro Pascal isn't ignoring an obvious parallel between himself and his character in the HBO series The Last of Us.
    — Arabella Hau, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of ignore
Adjective
  • Two other seats were left vacant when Democratic lawmakers died.
    — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Council members March 25 voted unanimously to rezone a vacant property on the west side of Montgomery for high-intensity mixed-use development, a designation allowing combinations of apartments, hotels and retail spaces.
    — Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of vacant
Adjective
  • And if left untamed, could result in the utter failure of human civilization.
    — Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Also surprising was the utter lack of any dancing during the 10-minute Dance of the Seven Veils orchestral piece (at least at Friday’s performance).
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of utter
Noun
  • The few survivors documented the dead, writing down the names and ages on two pages of paper.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Eads’ adult daughter told deputies that the mom of four filed to divorce Bryant, but Bryant refused to sign the papers, according to an affidavit from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and reporting from WESH.
    — Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of paper

Browse Nearby Words

blandness
blank
blank check
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Cite this Entry

“Blank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blank. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on blank

Nglish: Translation of blank for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blank

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