1
2
3
4

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vacant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of vacant are blank, empty, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

When can blank be used instead of vacant?

While in some cases nearly identical to vacant, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When would empty be a good substitute for vacant?

In some situations, the words empty and vacant are roughly equivalent. However, empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When is vacuous a more appropriate choice than vacant?

While the synonyms vacuous and vacant are close in meaning, 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 void instead of vacant?

The words void and vacant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

Examples 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 vacant Makhachev captured the vacant UFC lightweight title in October 2022 with a submission win over former UFC 155-pound titleholder Charles Oliveira. Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024 What's next: If Castro's ruling holds, a special election would be needed to fill the vacant Roseville-area seat, which Johnson won with over 60% of the vote. Torey Van Oot, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024 Austin American-Statesman The Bee Cave City Council will have two vacant seats after John Cobb submitted his resignation effective Dec. 25, city officials announced Tuesday. Austin American-Statesman, 17 Dec. 2024 According to multiple reports including from The Associated Press, Belichick inquired about the vacant coaching position with the New York Jets before moving to UNC, though no meetings or formal discussions took place. George Ramsay, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vacant 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacant
Adjective
  • Allen was given 65 years for each murder, to run consecutively. Allen, wearing an orange jumpsuit, a gray sweatshirt and ankle chains, looked over at the courtroom seats reserved for his family, which sat empty.
    Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 20 Dec. 2024
  • The cup is empty; a drink must be purchased to pour into it.
    Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Excessive watering of a dormant bulb is harmful and may cause the bulb to rot.
    Janet Carson, arkansasonline.com, 30 Dec. 2024
  • Taggers have marked up what appears to be more than 25 stories of a downtown Los Angeles skyscraper that’s been sitting dormant for several years.
    Times Photography Staff, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • To immediately set the mood, decorate your grand entrance with a photo op: This could be as simple as hanging a banner on a blank wall and flanking it with some flowers.
    Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2024
  • The first is when Beth’s aunt, the famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, asked them point blank if they were getting married.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2024
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
Adjective
  • Philadelphia next plays Monday against the Hornets before a stretch of off days leading into another matchup with the Hornets in Charlotte next Friday.
    David Aldridge, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Jenna Bush Hager often shares stories and photos of her husband and children, sharing insight into their off camera lives.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Southern Living, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • McQueen spends half an hour dispassionately showing us the grimness of HMP Maze, a Troubles-era warehouse for enemies of the British state on a disused airfield.
    IndieWire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024
  • In his first five night-shift stints as watchman at a disused ’80s amusement park/arcade mall — Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza Place — Mike stares glaze-eyed at security monitors, then drifts into violent 3-D incidents, His circumstance incarnates the hell that Morrissey sings about.
    Armond White, National Review, 1 Nov. 2023
Adjective
  • There isn't much that grows in the barren ground here, but Taleb points out fledgling mint, garlic and potato plants.
    Jane Arraf, NPR, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Remnants of homes, skeletal vehicles, and barren fields that mark the area had become haunting testaments to war’s devastation.
    Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Understand your benefits: Review your employment contract for information on unused vacation days, 401(k) plan, bonuses or stock options to which you may be entitled.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
  • Not the most prolific performance by any means, but her 9 points in less than five minutes — as New York busted out a previously unused three-big lineup — changed the game and helped the Liberty win their first title in franchise history.
    Chantel Jennings, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near vacant

Cite this Entry

“Vacant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacant. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vacant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!