void 1 of 3

adjective

ˈvȯid How to pronounce void (audio)
Definition of voidnext
1
as in null
having no legal or binding force an agreement is void if obtained by force

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2
as in empty
lacking contents that could or should be present a nuclear explosion that would leave the landscape as void and lifeless as one could imagine

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3
as in devoid
utterly lacking in something needed, wanted, or expected entirely void of common sense

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4
as in deserted
left unoccupied or unused the cornfields lay void under a blanket of snow

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void

2 of 3

noun

1
as in gap
an incomplete or deficient area a repressed memory that left a huge void in her recollection of her adolescent years

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2
as in emptiness
empty space those ancient travelers who traversed those vast watery voids between the islands of Oceania

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3
as in hole
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) the client wanted an old-fashioned stone wall and did not want the voids filled in with mortar

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void

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to repeal
to put an end to by formal action the court's decision voided the will the cashier voided the sale when the customer realized his wallet was at home

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2
as in to empty
to remove the contents of the seller has promised to void the house of all furniture

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective void contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of void are blank, empty, vacant, and vacuous. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

When is it sensible to use blank instead of void?

The words blank and void are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

When might empty be a better fit than void?

The synonyms empty and void are sometimes interchangeable, but empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

When can vacant be used instead of void?

In some situations, the words vacant and void are roughly equivalent. However, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

In what contexts can vacuous take the place of void?

Although the words vacuous and void have much in common, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

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 void
Adjective
With Taylor sullied publicly and a leadership void atop the department, Luck became the face of Stanford athletics and the sole possessor of the authority necessary to salvage the football program. —Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025 Despite the Dolphins rookies’ apparent willingness to step up in 2025, the truth is the team has a leadership void with the departures of defensive tackle Calais Campbell and offensive tackle Terron Armstead. —C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 7 May 2025
Noun
Now is the time for our state leaders to step up and fill the funding void left by this reckless decision. —Diane Goldstein, Oc Register, 11 May 2025 Ever since Triston Casas went down with a season-ending knee injury, speculation has run rampant that Rafael Devers could fill the void at first base. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 11 May 2025
Verb
Soto, the most coveted free agent of this off-season, joined the Mets on a 15-year, $765 million contract, which could rise in value to $805 million if the team chooses to exercise a clause to void an opt-out and keep him in Queens. —Justin Birnbaum, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025 Enrolling as a degree-seeking student at another college typically voids your deferral agreement, though taking individual courses for transfer credit may be permitted. —Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for void
Recent Examples of Synonyms for void
  1. null
  2. empty
  3. devoid
  4. gap
  5. hole
  6. repeal
  7. invalid
  8. barren
Adjective
  • Null and Void The first major point of controversy involves something called the null energy condition, under which—among other things—energy can’t propagate faster than light.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s team also provided information that could render these accusations null.
    — Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of null
Adjective
  • American retailers cried foul and indicated Santa Claus’s sled would be empty.
    — Bruce Yandle, Boston Herald, 1 June 2025
  • Those who depend on the river are already dealing with uncertainty: this season’s mountain snowpack is expected to deliver about half the median amount of water to the system’s two major reservoirs, which are already two-thirds empty.
    — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 31 May 2025
Definition of empty
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
Definition of devoid
Noun
  • In addition to his recent deep dive into the 2023 porch footage, Torre has also been behind several bombshells dropped about Hudson and Belichick, who have a 49-year age gap.
    — Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • Filling the Liberation Day gap continues to be a resistance level for the market.
    — Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Definition of gap
Noun
  • Other cavity nesters such as woodpeckers will make holes in trees, and those can also be adopted by tree swallows, flickers, kestrels and chickadees.
    — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025
  • For decades, conservationists successfully plugged that hole by arguing in court that the ESA’s prohibition of harm to individual species includes destroying a species’ habitat.
    — Emma Marris, The Atlantic, 25 May 2025
Definition of hole
Verb
  • The conservative view Many conservatives are determined to repeal or at least delay and dilute most of the clean energy breaks.
    — David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2025
  • Bill would end program in Texas On April 23, representatives of Texas Appleseed spoke at a committee hearing in support of House Bill 2609, which would repeal the Failure to Appear/Pay program.
    — Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2025
Definition of repeal
Adjective
  • The company has also said no federal regulatory agency has ever told it the credits are invalid.
    — Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2025
  • The board oversees virtually every aspect of state elections, large and small, from setting rules dictating what makes ballots valid or invalid to monitoring compliance with campaign finance laws.
    — Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 16 May 2025
Definition of invalid
Adjective
  • The festival was deliberately planned for the barren weeks in June after college students left and before the summer concert and festival season kicked in.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 25 May 2025
  • The Bureau’s new research station on Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano, with its high altitude and barren landscape, would prove to be the ideal collection spot.
    — Ashley Braun, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025
Definition of barren

Phrases Containing void

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voicing
void
voidance
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Cite this Entry

“Void.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/void. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on void

Nglish: Translation of void for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about void

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