VACUOUS Synonyms: 203 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'vacuous' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of vacuous are blank , empty , vacant , and void . While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance. // a vacuous facial expression

Q: When is it sensible to use 'blank' instead of 'vacuous'?

In some situations, the words blank and vacuous are roughly equivalent. However, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface. // a blank wall

Q: In what contexts can 'empty' take the place of 'vacuous'?

The meanings of empty and vacuous largely overlap; however, empty suggests a complete absence of contents. // an empty bucket

Q: Where would 'vacant' be a reasonable alternative to 'vacuous'?

The words vacant and vacuous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants. // a vacant apartment

Q: When would 'void' be a good substitute for 'vacuous'?

The synonyms void and vacuous are sometimes interchangeable, but void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine. // a statement void of meaning

vacuous

adjective

ˈva-kyə-wəs

Definition of vacuous next

as in devoid

lacking contents that could or should be present a great vacuous space that should have been filled with an audience

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stupid

not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily a movie that was enthusiastically derided for its vacuous dialogue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vacuous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of vacuous are blank, empty, vacant, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

When is it sensible to use blank instead of vacuous?

In some situations, the words blank and vacuous are roughly equivalent. However, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

In what contexts can empty take the place of vacuous?

The meanings of empty and vacuous largely overlap; however, empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

Where would vacant be a reasonable alternative to vacuous?

The words vacant and vacuous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

When would void be a good substitute for vacuous?

The synonyms void and vacuous are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 vacuous As Paul Fussell observed in The Great War and Modern Memory, a distrust of vacuous language was a hallmark of the words on tombstones at the Somme, not the solemn slogans written by Rudyard Kipling but the inscriptions composed by the families of the dead. —

Karen Parker Lears, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024 Any clever editor can bend them to accommodate the raison d’etre of all but the most vacuous pieces of journalism. —

Andrew Wallenstein, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024 The songs almost never advanced plot, and instead over-indulged in vacuous character study. —

Samantha Allen, Them, 4 Oct. 2024 First is Google’s plan to cull low-quality apps from Play Store, which should raise the bar materially and cut out much of the vacuous content littering users’ phones. —

Zak Doffman, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vacuous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacuous

Adjective

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
The medication has hallucinogenic effects that alter the perception of sight and sound and cause users to feel devoid from pain and out of control of their surroundings.

— Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2023