Meaning & use
vacuous
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Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Showing no real thought, meaning or intelligence; empty of substance.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a verb: a vacuous smile, the speech was vacuous.
Patterns
- a vacuous comment
- a vacuous expression
The politician gave a vacuous answer that said nothing.
He stared at the screen with a vacuous expression.
Reality shows are often called vacuous entertainment.
Word forms
| comparative | more vacuous |
|---|---|
| superlative | most vacuous |
Common combinations
- vacuous smile
- She gave a vacuous smile and nodded.
- vacuous expression
- His vacuous expression showed he had not listened.
- vacuous remarks
- The article was full of vacuous remarks.
- vacuous promises
- Voters were tired of vacuous promises.
Synonyms and how they differ
- empty-headed
- Empty-headed is informal and mostly describes people as silly.
- hollow
- Hollow often describes words or feelings that lack sincerity.
- inane
- Inane stresses silliness and lack of sense.
- shallow
- Shallow suggests lack of depth or serious interest.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: vacuous or vacant?
vacuous vs vacant
Vacant means unoccupied, though a vacant look can also mean blank; vacuous implies lack of thought or substance.
Practice
The slogan sounded impressive but was really ____, offering no actual ideas.
Choose one answer.
Vacuous means empty of meaning. Vigorous, vicious and vibrant describe energy, cruelty or liveliness, none of which suits a slogan with no ideas.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “vacuous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.