English vocabulary · C1
Vacuous
/ˈvækjuəs/ · adj.
It means empty of thought or meaning. An empty mind and an empty stare.
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Example sentences
- She gave a vacuous smile and walked away.
- His vacuous stare showed he heard nothing.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- vacu — empty (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- EMPTY — with nothing inside (Simple & Everyday)
- MINDLESS — done without thought (No Thinking Involved)
- BLANK — showing nothing (No Expression)
Words with the same root
vacu — empty
- vacuum — space with nothing in it
- vacant — empty and not used
- vacate — to leave a place empty
Lesson notes
Vacuous. It means empty of thought or meaning. An empty mind and an empty stare.
Related: empty, mindless, blank. Use vacuous when words or looks show no thought.
She gave a vacuous smile and walked away. His vacuous stare showed he heard nothing.
From Latin. Vacu- means empty. An empty stare with no thought behind it — that is vacuous.