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hollow 1 of 3

Definition of hollownext

hollow

2 of 3

noun

hollow

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hollow distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of hollow are empty, idle, nugatory, otiose, and vain. While all these words mean "being without worth or significance," empty and hollow suggest a deceiving lack of real substance or soundness or genuineness.

an empty attempt at reconciliation
a hollow victory

When is it sensible to use idle instead of hollow?

Although the words idle and hollow have much in common, idle suggests being incapable of worthwhile use or effect.

idle speculations

When could nugatory be used to replace hollow?

The synonyms nugatory and hollow are sometimes interchangeable, but nugatory suggests triviality or insignificance.

a monarch with nugatory powers

When can otiose be used instead of hollow?

In some situations, the words otiose and hollow are roughly equivalent. However, otiose suggests that something serves no purpose and is either an encumbrance or a superfluity.

a film without a single otiose scene

Where would vain be a reasonable alternative to hollow?

While in some cases nearly identical to hollow, vain implies either absolute or relative absence of value.

vain promises

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 hollow
Adjective
As Randall held a knife to the man’s throat, Flynn fired a hollow-point bullet into his head. CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026 The researchers focused on true tessellations, in which geometric tiles are discrete structural pieces separated by softer seams, rather than purely visual or hollow patterns such as animal coloration or honeycombs. Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Scientific American, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
As Kayleen gets older, Young descends that center into herself, becoming weighted with disappointment, wide-eyed, and hollow. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2025 Swipe it onto the hollows of the cheeks, across the forehead, and across the bridge of the nose for that just-got-back-from-vacation glow. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 18 Nov. 2025
Verb
First, carve a wide mouth out of the top of a large gourd and then thoroughly hollow it out. Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025 Rising rents, gentrification, and the pressure of tourism have hollowed many of them out. Clarissa Wei, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hollow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hollow
Adjective
  • The cello’s top and back are made from flat, concave carbon-fiber panels.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 9 Dec. 2025
  • But in all realities, the E3 uses two auto-focus points – like a stereo range finder – for engraving over uneven or concave/convex surfaces.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • His absence left yet another hole in the quartet featuring him, Ball, Knueppel and Bridges.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Plunging directly in the frigid lake via holes carved in the ice.
    Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Cumberland Gap Where Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia meet, Cumberland Gap sits in a valley that looks up at the famous gap in the Cumberland Mountain range from which the town gets its name.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Narrow, winding streets and passageways lead up to the centuries-old Eglise Saint-Sauveur for sweeping views of the rugged valley.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • At Dia, the cage has been reconstructed in full, complete with Hsieh’s boots and his tally marks gouged into the wall.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
  • For example, a rock just 11 pounds (5 kilograms) in mass can gouge a crater more than 30 feet (9 meters) wide and eject over 75 metric tons of lunar soil and rock, according to NASA.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Guests can relax by the sunken pool, inspired by classic Texas swimming holes; an on-site spa is also available.
    Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2025
  • But when a recipe specifically calls for something else, substituting another type may leave you with a sunken cake or flat biscuits.
    Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Those two losses were part of a disappointing 1-3-1 homestand that put a dent in their previous home-ice dominance and put them in arrears in their chase for a playoff spot.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Even at the presidential level – where personal legacy should, in theory, be most sensitive – scandals barely leave a dent.
    Brandon Rottinghaus, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The watershed also is situated on relatively flat, low-lying and porous terrain, enabling higher tides to penetrate deeper into the freshwater marshes through the vast network of canals that holds the watershed together.
    Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Massaging it into the scalp helps stimulate circulation and allows the product to penetrate more effectively.
    Iman Balagam, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Christmas garlands, high heels, and even craft supplies have all found a home in the spacious cavity.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Plaque is the sticky film of germs that can cause cavities and make your breath smell bad.
    Linda Bartoshuk, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hollow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hollow. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

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