1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stupid
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily
a movie that was enthusiastically derided for its vacuous dialogue
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vacuous
Few commentators have paid much attention to these parallels, partly because the two presidents’ personalities are so different, partly because paying tribute to Reagan has long been a vacuous ritual for Republican candidates.
—
Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for vacuous
Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for vacuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacuous
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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When Luca pulls a gun on him, ordering him to drive, Spencer quickly disarms him and then slaps him for the stupid move.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
9 Mar. 2025
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Indexing gives you a better chance to ‘be less stupid.’ — Investment advisor Barry Ritholtz Those dismal statistics come to us via the latest annual SPIVA scorecard (the acronym stands for Standard and Poor’s Index vs. Active).—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Hide your money anywhere but your shoe; buy a solo car; don’t wander any empty train platforms.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2025
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Built in 1917 as a grand hostelry that drew a who’s-who list of visitors in its heyday, it was scheduled for renovation after sitting empty for 15 years.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
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Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Adjective
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Such descriptions enliven the book, and capture Shubin’s reverence for both the beauty and the mysteries hidden in the cold, barren tundra.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
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For most of its barren interior, life is an afterthought—nature’s great white void, frozen in time.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The 2024-25 Bruins are slow, short on skill, inconsistent on defense and diminished in net.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
The Athletic,
8 Mar. 2025
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After a slow few weeks on the PGA Tour calendar, things are heating back up with two of the biggest events on tour followed by the first major of the year.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This fund is the simplest way to play the inevitable rise in lithium prices.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
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Prioritizing fitness amid a busy travel schedule, the former Radio City Rockette and The Talk host says her outlook is simple.—
Meredith Lepore,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The final product is smooth but not thin, with a thick and intriguing mouthfeel.—
Erik Ofgang,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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The average iPhone 16 measures 7.9mm (0.31 inches) thick, and the Galaxy S25 measures 7.2mm (0.28 inches) thick.—
Eric Zeman,
PCMAG,
5 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to vacuous
Cite this Entry
“Vacuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacuous. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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