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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

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 vacant Dove, who was from Lugoff, a community about 45 miles northeast of Saint Matthews, is believed to have been shot while checking on a vacant residence that belonged to a family member. Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025 State lawmakers passed a bill reviving the office in 2022, but the post had remained vacant until last fall when Ward was named interim leader. James Watson, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2025 City leaders recently gave themselves new powers to levy stiffer fines, with vacant buildings like the former Midway CVS in mind. Kyle Stokes, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025 Trump pardoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who spent eight years in prison on multiple corruption charges, including scheming to sell a vacant Senate seat. Allison Morrow, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vacant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacant
Adjective
  • That’s enough to fill from almost empty to 80 percent in 18 minutes.
    Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The body part was dumped onto an empty schoolyard in northern Dublin around 10:30 a.m. Friday, according to Irish outlet Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE).
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • By targeting the root cause, that is dormant hair follicles, the treatment has a more complete effect as opposed to what is currently being offered, which only slows down the process of hair loss.
    Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The study also speculated potential future Alzheimer’s problems may arise from the COVID-19 pandemic as SARS-CoV-2 infections have been known to reactivate dormant VSV and HSV-1 infections.
    Rich Haridy, New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Going to Naples with a ‘blank canvas’ Styler has long had a relationship with Italy, having acted in three films in the country in the 1980s and giving birth to her third child, Eliot, in Pisa in 1990.
    Lucy Handley, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Fraser’s doofus-y blank face essentially requires his co-stars to do all the work and, uh … ain’t no way Ford’s working that hard.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Feb. 2025
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
  • Because the baseball season is long, every off day — both in spring training and in the regular season — is cherished as a time to spend time away from the constant grind of the season.
    C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The companies are also planning another event in December for athletes in leagues that are in their off seasons at the time, like the WNBA, NWSL, and MLB.
    Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • One of the most powerful scenes in Sugarcane takes place in a disused barn where, over a period of decades, Indigenous children worked under the lash.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • In her first Cowboy Carter teaser during the 2024 Super Bowl, Bey is seen driving a taxi through a barren landscape.
    Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Is there something about the needy Anja and her ragged child that the barren Isabell responds to?
    Alissa Simon, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The district has more than 2,500 classrooms, meaning 900 are going unused without counting portable classrooms.
    Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Meanwhile, audits and complaints show that the local agencies that directly pay and monitor shelter contractors often fail to follow up on reports of unsafe conditions, unused beds or missed housing targets.
    CalMatters, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vacant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacant. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

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