Synonyms for Devoid (26 Best Words With Examples)

Have you ever read the word “devoid” and wondered how else you can say it in your daily writing or speaking? In this article, we will explore 26 different synonyms for “devoid” such as “empty”, “barren”, and “vacant”. You will also see clear meanings and examples for every synonym to make learning smoother.

Synonym	Meaning	Example
Empty	Having nothing inside	The box was empty after the gifts were taken out.
Barren	Not producing anything or showing no results	The barren land could not grow any crops.
Vacant	Not filled or used	The chair was vacant at the dinner table.
Bare	Without covering or decoration	His feet were bare after he lost his shoes.
Hollow	Having space inside or lacking fullness	The log was hollow and filled with ants.
Blank	Without writing, marks, or content	She handed me a blank sheet of paper.
Desolate	Showing emptiness or no comfort	The street looked desolate at night.
Unfilled	Not occupied or not full	The form had an unfilled section.
Naked	Without covering or clothes	The tree stood naked after losing its leaves.
Stark	Plain and without any detail	The room looked stark with only one chair.
Vacuous	Showing lack of thought or empty	His vacuous smile showed no real feeling.
Bereft	Lacking something important	She felt bereft of hope after the loss.
Wanting	Missing something needed	His answer was wanting in detail.
Void	Completely empty or without value	The space felt like a void with nothing inside.
Clear	Free from anything unwanted	The sky was clear of clouds.
Bleak	Cold and empty in feeling	The bleak landscape spread before us.
Purged	Freed from something unwanted	His mind was purged of bad thoughts.
Exposed	Without cover or protection	The wall was exposed after the paint came off.
Absent	Not present or missing	He was absent from school today.
Austere	Plain and without luxury	The austere room had only a bed and table.
Neglected	Showing signs of being left without care	The garden looked neglected and empty.
Stripped	Taken away of coverings	The room was stripped of furniture.
Without	Lacking or not having	She was without her bag in the market.
Destitute	Without basic needs or resources	The destitute man had no food or shelter.
Unfurnished	Without furniture	The apartment was unfurnished when we moved in.
Deprived	Missing what is needed	He was deprived of rest after many nights of work.

Empty

The word “empty” is one of the most common synonyms for “devoid”. It is often used when something has nothing inside or nothing left. When you say something is empty, you are pointing out that it has no content or it is completely lacking in what should be there. For example, you may use it to describe a container, a room, or even feelings. It gives the picture of something with space but no substance.

The house felt empty after everyone left.
Her wallet was empty by the end of the trip.
The classroom looked empty on the weekend.

Barren

The word “barren” is used to describe a place or situation where nothing grows, nothing improves, or nothing positive happens. It often carries a stronger meaning than just “empty” because it suggests no potential for growth or results. For example, barren land cannot produce crops, and barren efforts mean no success. It is also used in emotional ways to describe a lack of hope or joy.

The desert land was barren and dry.
His mind felt barren of new ideas.
The barren fields could not feed the village.

Vacant

The word “vacant” is often used to describe spaces, seats, or positions that are not filled or used. It shows that something is waiting to be taken or filled. You may see signs that say “vacant” when looking for a room or apartment. Vacant can also be used for people when their faces show no expression or thought. This makes the word useful for both physical places and emotional states.

The hotel had a vacant room for the night.
His eyes looked vacant during the long meeting.
The seat remained vacant at the concert.

Bare

When something is “bare”, it means it has nothing on it, no cover, or no decoration. It shows the idea of being plain or uncovered. For example, bare walls have no pictures, bare feet have no shoes, and a bare table has no cloth or food. The word can also give a feeling of being unprotected or exposed. It is often used when you want to show the most basic or simple state of something.

The tree branches were bare in winter.
She walked on the grass with bare feet.
The bare room had no curtains or carpet.

Hollow

The word “hollow” is used when something has an empty space inside, even if it looks solid on the outside. It can also be used in a more emotional way to show when someone feels empty inside, lacking happiness or meaning. For example, a hollow log has space inside it, and a hollow laugh shows no true feeling. The word gives the idea of emptiness both physically and emotionally.

The chocolate egg was hollow inside.
His hollow voice showed sadness.
The old tree was hollow and weak.

Blank

The word “blank” means there is nothing on the surface, nothing written, and nothing shown. A blank paper has no marks, and a blank screen has no images. It can also be used for people when they show no expression or thought. When you say something is blank, you describe it as unused, plain, or lacking any sign of content. It is often used in learning, writing, or technology.

She stared at the blank paper during the test.
His face went blank after hearing the news.
The TV showed a blank screen.

Desolate

The word “desolate” describes a place that feels empty, lonely, and often sad. It is stronger than just “empty” because it carries a feeling of hopelessness. Desolate places are often without people, comfort, or life. It can also describe feelings when someone feels alone or abandoned. This word gives a sense of both physical emptiness and emotional emptiness, making it powerful in writing and speaking.

The street was desolate after the storm.
She felt desolate after losing her friend.
The desolate house was falling apart.

Unfilled

The word “unfilled” describes something that is not yet full or complete. For example, an unfilled form means you have not written in the needed information. An unfilled job position means nobody has taken the role. It is often used when something is waiting for someone or something to make it complete. The word shows that the space or role is open and ready.

The glass was still unfilled.
There was an unfilled space on the shelf.
The job remained unfilled for months.

Naked

The word “naked” is used when something has no covering, no clothes, or no protection. It can also be used for objects, not just people. For example, a naked tree has no leaves, and a naked wall has no paint or decoration. The word often shows exposure and vulnerability. It can also be used in an emotional way to describe openness or honesty.

The naked light bulb hung from the ceiling.
The mountain was naked without snow.
The naked truth was hard to hear.

Stark

The word “stark” means plain, empty, and often without comfort. It can describe a place with very little inside or a situation that feels very harsh. Stark can also be used when two things are very different from each other, showing a clear contrast. The word gives a strong feeling of plainness and simplicity, sometimes even coldness. It is useful when you want to show something very bare and clear.

The stark room had only one chair.
There was a stark difference between rich and poor.
The landscape looked stark in winter.

Vacuous

The word “vacuous” means lacking thought, content, or real meaning. It is often used to describe expressions, comments, or actions that seem empty and without value. For example, a vacuous smile shows no true feeling, and a vacuous remark shows no useful point. The word can carry a negative meaning because it suggests that something is not only empty but also shallow or unimportant.

He gave a vacuous answer to the question.
Her vacuous stare worried her parents.
The speech sounded vacuous and meaningless.

Bereft

The word “bereft” means lacking something very important, often something emotional like hope, love, or happiness. It is usually used in sad or serious situations. For example, someone may be bereft of joy after a loss. The word is strong and emotional, and it gives the sense of deep emptiness. It does not only show the absence of something but also the pain of missing it.

She was bereft of comfort after her father passed.
The town was bereft of peace during war.
He felt bereft of purpose after losing his job.

Wanting

The word “wanting” is used when something is missing or not good enough. It often shows a lack of quality, detail, or strength. For example, if an answer is wanting, it does not give enough information. If a plan is wanting, it is not strong enough to work. The word is useful when you want to show that something is not complete or not meeting the needed level.

His work was wanting in detail.
The test results were wanting in accuracy.
Her speech was wanting in emotion.

Void

The word “void” shows complete emptiness, often with a strong sense of nothingness. It is used for both physical spaces and emotional states. For example, space is often called a void, and a person may feel a void in their heart after a loss. The word suggests not only emptiness but also an endless lack of content. It can feel very deep and powerful.

The contract was declared void.
He felt a void in his life after the breakup.
The night sky looked like a dark void.

Clear

The word “clear” can be used to show that something has nothing unwanted inside or on it. For example, clear water has no dirt, and a clear sky has no clouds. It is often used in a positive way to show freedom from problems, blocks, or mess. The word can also be used in emotional ways to show understanding or openness.

The glass was clear and shining.
Her mind was clear after resting.
The path was clear after the workers finished.

Bleak

The word “bleak” describes something that looks cold, empty, or hopeless. It can be used for landscapes, situations, or feelings. For example, a bleak winter day feels empty and harsh. A bleak future means there is little hope. The word is strong and often negative, but it helps show the seriousness of emptiness or lack of comfort.

The field looked bleak in the cold wind.
The news gave him a bleak outlook on life.
The house stood in a bleak area.

Purged

The word “purged” means freed from something unwanted or removed completely. It shows the idea that something has been emptied of what should not be there. For example, a mind can be purged of bad thoughts, or a system can be purged of waste. The word can be used in both physical and emotional ways.

The file was purged of old records.
His heart was purged of anger.
The area was purged of harmful plants.

Exposed

The word “exposed” means without cover, protection, or hidden parts. It can be used for both physical things and feelings. For example, an exposed wall shows bricks without paint, and an exposed person feels vulnerable when secrets are revealed. The word gives the idea of openness, often in a way that leaves someone or something unprotected.

His skin was exposed to the sun.
The exposed wires were dangerous.
She felt exposed after sharing her story.

Absent

The word “absent” means not present or missing. It can be used for people, objects, or even feelings. For example, a student can be absent from class, or kindness can be absent in someone’s behavior. The word is useful for showing something that should be there but is not. It is often used in formal settings like schools or offices.

He was absent from the meeting.
Her mind seemed absent during the talk.
The room was absent of joy.

Austere

The word “austere” describes something plain, simple, and without comfort or luxury. It is often used for places, lifestyles, or appearances. For example, an austere room has only the most basic furniture. An austere lifestyle means living without extra things or pleasures. The word gives a serious and sometimes strict feeling.

The austere building had no decorations.
He lived an austere life with little money.
The austere design was admired by many.

Neglected

The word “neglected” means left without care or attention. It often shows that something is empty or ruined because nobody took care of it. For example, a neglected garden will look empty and lifeless. A neglected child may lack love or attention. The word is strong because it shows not only emptiness but also failure of care.

The neglected park was full of weeds.
She felt neglected by her friends.
The house looked neglected and empty.

Stripped

The word “stripped” means something has been taken away, especially its covering or important parts. For example, a stripped room has no furniture, and a stripped tree has no leaves. It gives the sense of being left bare and exposed after something is removed. The word often shows force or loss.

The walls were stripped of wallpaper.
His title was stripped after the scandal.
The forest was stripped of trees.

Without

The word “without” shows the absence of something or someone. It is very flexible and can be used in almost any situation. For example, without food means no food, without money means no money, and without help means no help. It is a direct way to show that something important is missing.

She left without her phone.
Life without friends can feel lonely.
The team played without their captain.

Destitute

The word “destitute” describes someone who has no basic needs such as food, money, or shelter. It is often used in serious situations when a person has nothing to survive on. It shows not only emptiness but also great hardship. It is one of the stronger synonyms for “devoid” because it focuses on the lack of resources.

The destitute family needed help.
He felt destitute after losing his job.
Many destitute people lived on the streets.

Unfurnished

The word “unfurnished” describes a space or place that has no furniture inside. It is often used for apartments, houses, or rooms that are empty of chairs, tables, or beds. When something is unfurnished, it is still useful, but it is not complete for living. The word is practical and often used in housing.

The apartment was unfurnished when rented.
The unfurnished room echoed when we spoke.
We bought an unfurnished flat to decorate ourselves.

Deprived

The word “deprived” means missing something that is needed, usually for health, comfort, or happiness. For example, someone can be deprived of sleep, food, or love. It is often used when the lack causes suffering. It shows not only emptiness but also struggle. The word can be used in both daily life and serious topics.

He was deprived of rest for days.
The children were deprived of education.
She felt deprived of happiness.

Final Thoughts

All these 26 synonyms for “devoid” can help you express emptiness, lack, or absence in different ways. Some words are soft, some strong, and some very emotional. When you know many synonyms, you can choose the right one for your situation. Practice using them in sentences, and soon they will become part of your daily communication.