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
One suspects that development is not intended to underline how incredibly vacuous and petulant these central characters appear, when we’re meant to regard them as soulful soulmates.
—
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025
The last thing the British royal family will be interested in is Meghan's inauthentic, cringey, vacuous celebrity cookery reality show.
—Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for vacuous
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025
The last thing the British royal family will be interested in is Meghan's inauthentic, cringey, vacuous celebrity cookery reality show.
—Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for vacuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacuous
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
Adjective
-
Amelia soon decides that stupid boys (and humans in general) aren't worth keeping around.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
And in practice, the experience is delightfully stupid.—
Luke Winkie,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But the schedule is also noticeably empty toward the backend of the trip.—
Andrew Carey,
CNN Money,
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
Adjective
-
Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
-
Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Adjective
-
Charlie Parker’s Favorite Painting (1946) indicates Abercrombie’s engagement with social issues: a yellow noose, nearly fluorescent against a dishwater sky, dangles from a barren tree—an oblique lament from the doggedly antiracist Abercrombie.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
ARTnews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Meanwhile, the patch of skin to the ’22 trophy’s left looks almost barren.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The slowest builder finished before the one who overslept.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Of the slow, unsexy work of loving someone even in the worst times.—
Ruhama Wolle,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
That simplicity feels so apt for this show, There's enough here: The production is simple and sweet, while Jonas and Warren exude a certain magnetism.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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But an attack can be much simpler — and can stop once a user has given away their credentials.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Twangy bass lines thick enough to saw down a redwood tree are shredded with shivers of electric guitar to create a blues sound that cuts a hole straight through the decades.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
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This beautiful Easter garland, on sale for $79.99 at Wayfair, is opulent and thick with twigs and pastel eggs that run throughout.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vacuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacuous. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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