devoid
Americanadjective
verb (used with object)
adjective
Etymology
Origin of devoid
1350–1400; Middle English, originally past participle < Anglo-French, for Old French desvuidier to empty out, equivalent to des- dis- 1 + vuidier to empty, void
Explanation
You're stranded in the ocean, miles from shore, clinging to a sinking boat, and you can't swim? Sorry to say, your situation is devoid of all hope. When you fall off a cliff, you fall into the void. Void means "empty." Devoid means "empty of." Always answer the question "Of what?" when you use it: "My wallet is devoid of cash. My teacher is devoid of pity. My cookie jar is devoid of cookies." These examples are devoid of anything not totally depressing!
Vocabulary lists containing devoid
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 3
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ACT Vocabulary List
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 16–19
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Floyd and Clark, these two guys are almost completely devoid of swagger.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
We live on the fourth floor of a walk-up that is typically devoid of insects.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
He remembers the months after the births of his two sons as "grey" - life was devoid of colour and filled with people telling him that being a father must be a fantastic experience.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
But if Spain was a picture of tactical discipline, France found itself strangely devoid of the verve or precision that had carried it this far.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
These boys and girls were will-less, their speech flat, their gestures vague, their personalities devoid of anger, hope, laughter, enthusiasm, passion, or despair.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
