VACANT Synonyms: 185 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

vacant

adjective

ˈvā-kənt

Definition of vacant

as in empty

lacking contents that could or should be present a vacant room that could be converted into a classroom

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dormant

not being in a state of use, activity, or employment looking for vacant land on which to build a house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in blank

not expressing any emotion the prisoner's vacant and distracted expression

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deserted

left unoccupied or unused police discovered that vagrants had been sleeping in the vacant warehouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The presidency in this Caribbean nation of 12 million has been vacant since the 2021 assassination of Jovenel Moïse. — Widlore Mérancourt, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026 This runoff for a vacant seat on the bench features a longtime public defender running against a veteran alternate public defender. — Jon Regardie, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 The Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office has announced plans to retry the man accused of setting a vacant Stricker Street rowhome on fire back in 2022. — Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 In January, North Carolina Health News reported that roughly 40% of positions at the Cabarrus detention center were vacant. — Nora O’Neill 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vacant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacant

Adjective

None of the ballistic missiles that slammed Kyiv overnight into Thursday were intercepted – an indicator that Patriot stocks are still empty or critically low.

— Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Phishing email and empty ring boxes Vardon’s article was primarily about how Knicks assistant coaches did not get rings on Tuesday when the team raised its first league championship banner since 1973.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of empty

Adjective

The issues may have been lying dormant The vulnerabilities have been known about since at least 2024, according to the PHP Foundation.

— Kaitlyn Huamani, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
So Hanawalt reactivated her dormant Facebook account and began scrolling through local horse sale groups.

— Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of dormant

Adjective

Becerra’s origin story traces back to his youth in Sacramento, and a moment when a high school friend was about to throw out a blank, unused application to Stanford University.

— Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Various items are prohibited across the complex, including phones, smartwatches, recording devices, and, curiously, blank double-sided pieces of printer paper.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of blank

Adjective

The suitcase containing her body was found soon afterward by railway tracks in a deserted area.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Supporting this theory, the population of Lauriacum increased threefold over the next fifty years, with the deserted settlement now being used as a quarry.

— Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of deserted

Adjective

The residents occasionally gather in a disused rec center but the meetings devolve into rants about immigrants, junkies, thugs and vigilantism.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
At least 14 artisanal miners are dead and scores are injured at a disused mine in South Africa, police said Tuesday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of disused

Adjective

These bright spots in an otherwise barren season for curve representation weren’t necessarily novel.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
Research into turning Martian dust into material that supports plant growth highlights how much work remains to make barren planetary materials useful for agriculture.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of barren

Browse Nearby Words

vacancy

vacant

vacantness

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Style

“Vacant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacant. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of vacant

adjective

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