Word of the Day 7.29.9

vacuous

vac·u·ous (vky-s)

adj.

1. Devoid of matter; empty.

2.

a. Lacking intelligence; stupid.

b. Devoid of substance or meaning; inane: a vacuous comment.

c. Devoid of expression; vacant: “The narrow, swinelike eyes were open, no more vacuous in death than they had been in life” (Nicholas Proffitt).

3. Lacking serious purpose or occupation; idle. See Synonyms at empty.


[From Latin vacuus, empty; see vacuum.]


vacu·ous·ly adv.

vacu·ous·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Adj.

1.

vacuous – devoid of intelligence

foolish – devoid of good sense or judgment; “foolish remarks”; “a foolish decision”

2.

vacuous – devoid of significance or point; “empty promises”; “a hollow victory”; “vacuous comments”

meaningless, nonmeaningful – having no meaning or direction or purpose; “a meaningless endeavor”; “a meaningless life”; “a verbose but meaningless explanation”

3.

vacuous – devoid of matter; “a vacuous space”

empty – holding or containing nothing; “an empty glass”; “an empty room”; “full of empty seats”; “empty hours”

4.

vacuous – void of expression; “a blank stare”

incommunicative, uncommunicative – not inclined to talk or give information or express opinions

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Posted on July 29, 2009 by admin

Filed under Word of the Day | | No Comments »