COME UP EMPTY Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

come up empty

phrase

Definition of come up empty

as in collapse

to be unsuccessful We searched for a viable candidate but came up empty.

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for come up empty

Phrase

Meta Platforms, which is pushing its Muse AI agent, lost 7% after reporting stronger revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit fell short.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Of course, missing nine free throws in a seven-point loss wasn’t the only reason Orlando fell short to Atlanta in its season-opener.

— Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of fall short

Phrase

Rolling sections upward and positioning rollers close to the roots can create lift where hair tends to fall flat, a technique that matters as much as the tool itself.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026
Hormonal shifts in your 40s, 50s and 60s can change how hair behaves, and a cut that worked for years may suddenly fall flat by lunchtime.

— Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of fall flat

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come up

come up empty

comeuppance

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“Come up empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/come%20up%20empty. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of come up empty

phrase

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