When we think of the word “empty,” it often makes us think of something that is lacking or has nothing inside. But sometimes, we use similes to make this feeling more interesting. A simile compares one thing to another, often using the words “like” or “as,” to give us a better picture of what someone is feeling or seeing.
In this article, we will explore some similes that are used to describe the feeling of emptiness. These comparisons will help you express the idea of being empty in more creative and fun ways. Whether it’s a room, a feeling, or a space, similes bring a new way to describe emptiness in language.
Similes for Empty
1. As empty as a jar without a lid
Meaning: Completely empty, without anything inside.
Example: The box was as empty as a jar without a lid.
Put Differently: The bag was as empty as a jar with nothing inside.
2. Like a hollow tree
Meaning: Lacking substance or content.
Example: The room felt as empty as a hollow tree.
Put Differently: His voice sounded like a hollow tree—so empty.
3. As empty as a desert
Meaning: Lacking life or activity.
Example: After the party ended, the street was as empty as a desert.
Put Differently: The field felt as empty as a desert under the hot sun.
4. Like a vacant house
Meaning: Completely uninhabited or deserted.
Example: The old shop stood like a vacant house on the corner.
Put Differently: After the store closed, it felt like a vacant house.
5. As empty as a bottle with no water
Meaning: Completely without content or use.
Example: After the race, my water bottle was as empty as a bottle with no water.
Put Differently: His stomach felt as empty as a bottle with no water.
6. Like a dry well
Meaning: Lacking energy, ideas, or resources.
Example: I felt like a dry well when I couldn’t think of anything to write.
Put Differently: The conversation was like a dry well, with no new ideas.
7. As empty as a forgotten toy
Meaning: Neglected or left unused.
Example: The toy sat in the corner, as empty as a forgotten toy.
Put Differently: The old chair felt as empty as a forgotten toy on the shelf.
8. Like a broken vase
Meaning: Fragile or damaged, empty of meaning.
Example: Her words felt like a broken vase—once beautiful but now empty.
Put Differently: The room was like a broken vase, empty of joy.
9. As empty as a theater after the show
Meaning: Completely cleared out or deserted.
Example: The hall was as empty as a theater after the show.
Put Differently: The playground looked as empty as a theater after the play.
10. Like an empty balloon
Meaning: Lacking air, energy, or life.
Example: I felt as empty as an empty balloon after the long day.
Put Differently: His plans were as empty as an unfilled balloon.
11. As vacant as a ghost town
Meaning: Completely empty, with no one around.
Example: The street was as vacant as a ghost town after midnight.
Put Differently: The park was as vacant as a ghost town in the morning.
12. Like a cracked mirror
Meaning: Shattered or incomplete.
Example: My thoughts were as empty as a cracked mirror.
Put Differently: The situation felt as empty as a cracked mirror reflecting nothing.
13. As empty as a cup without tea
Meaning: Lacking warmth, comfort, or substance.
Example: The house felt as empty as a cup without tea.
Put Differently: His heart felt as empty as a cup without tea.
14. Like a snow-covered field
Meaning: Cold, uninhabited, and untouched.
Example: The backyard was as empty as a snow-covered field.
Put Differently: The room felt as empty as a snow-covered field after the storm.
15. As empty as an old bookshop
Meaning: Quiet and lacking activity.
Example: The mall was as empty as an old bookshop on a rainy day.
Put Differently: The road seemed as empty as an old bookshop closed for the day.
16. Like an abandoned car
Meaning: Left alone, neglected, and without purpose.
Example: The abandoned house looked like an empty, forgotten car.
Put Differently: His thoughts were as empty as an abandoned car.
17. As bare as a mountain after a wildfire
Meaning: Stripped of everything, with nothing left.
Example: The forest after the storm was as bare as a mountain after a wildfire.
Put Differently: The landscape was as bare as a mountain after a wildfire.
18. Like a vacant chair at a party
Meaning: Lacking a presence or life.
Example: The space at the table was as empty as a vacant chair at a party.
Put Differently: The meeting room was as empty as a vacant chair at a party.
19. As empty as a lunchbox after recess
Meaning: Completely used up or depleted.
Example: My backpack felt as empty as a lunchbox after recess.
Put Differently: The fridge looked as empty as a lunchbox after recess.
20. Like a cloud in the sky
Meaning: Faint and without substance.
Example: His hopes were as empty as a cloud drifting across the sky.
Put Differently: The room was as empty as a cloud floating through the air.
21. As hollow as a drum
Meaning: Lacking any real meaning or depth.
Example: The building was as hollow as a drum.
Put Differently: His promise was as hollow as a drum, with no substance.
22. Like a forgotten streetlamp
Meaning: Alone, unused, and unneeded.
Example: The park felt as empty as a forgotten streetlamp.
Put Differently: The city felt as empty as a forgotten streetlamp in the dark.
23. As quiet as an empty room
Meaning: Silent and without any noise or movement.
Example: The house was as quiet as an empty room.
Put Differently: The office felt as quiet as an empty room.
24. Like a missing puzzle piece
Meaning: Something important that is absent or needed to complete something.
Example: The situation felt as empty as a missing puzzle piece.
Put Differently: His smile was as empty as a missing puzzle piece.
25. As empty as a bag with a hole
Meaning: Leaking or lacking substance.
Example: My wallet was as empty as a bag with a hole.
Put Differently: The promise felt as empty as a bag with a hole.
26. Like a key with no lock
Meaning: Without purpose or function.
Example: His efforts were like a key with no lock.
Put Differently: Her actions felt like a key with no lock.
27. As empty as a lunch tray after lunch
Meaning: All used up or consumed.
Example: The cafeteria was as empty as a lunch tray after lunch.
Put Differently: The kitchen was as empty as a lunch tray after lunch.
28. Like an old, cracked vase
Meaning: Fragile and empty of beauty.
Example: His words felt like an old, cracked vase.
Put Differently: The room was as empty as an old, cracked vase in the corner.
29. As empty as a phone with no signal
Meaning: Without connection or use.
Example: The place felt as empty as a phone with no signal.
Put Differently: His life seemed as empty as a phone with no signal.
30. Like a book with blank pages
Meaning: Without content or meaning.
Example: The meeting was as empty as a book with blank pages.
Put Differently: His story felt as empty as a book with blank pages.
31. As empty as a balloon deflating
Meaning: Losing air or substance.
Example: The party felt as empty as a balloon deflating.
Put Differently: The conversation was as empty as a balloon deflating.
32. Like a forgotten painting
Meaning: Left out and unnoticed.
Example: His hopes were as empty as a forgotten painting.
Put Differently: The wall was as empty as a forgotten painting gathering dust.
33. As empty as an untouched cup of coffee
Meaning: Left behind or neglected.
Example: The office was as empty as an untouched cup of coffee.
Put Differently: The table was as empty as an untouched cup of coffee.
34. Like an open window on a windy day
Meaning: Without control or purpose.
Example: His thoughts were like an open window on a windy day.
Put Differently: The room felt like an open window on a windy day, drafty and empty.
35. As empty as an old notebook
Meaning: Lacking any content or use.
Example: The conversation was as empty as an old notebook.
Put Differently: The page was as empty as an old notebook left unused.
36. Like a spilled drink
Meaning: Messy and without purpose.
Example: The party was as empty as a spilled drink.
Put Differently: The table was as empty as a spilled drink soaking into the floor.
37. As empty as a suitcase on vacation
Meaning: Ready but unfilled.
Example: The closet was as empty as a suitcase on vacation.
Put Differently: The cupboard was as empty as a suitcase on vacation.
38. Like a wind-blown leaf
Meaning: Floating aimlessly, without purpose.
Example: His mind was as empty as a wind-blown leaf.
Put Differently: The room was as empty as a wind-blown leaf drifting in the breeze.
39. As empty as a sleeping dog’s bed
Meaning: Quiet and unused.
Example: The house was as empty as a sleeping dog’s bed.
Put Differently: The yard felt as empty as a sleeping dog’s bed.
40. Like a glass without water
Meaning: Completely drained or void of content.
Example: My thoughts were as empty as a glass without water.
Put Differently: The bottle felt as empty as a glass without water.
“Rewrite the Sentence” Activity: Similes for Empty
Below are 10 simple sentences about situations related to emptiness. Rewrite each sentence using a simile from the list above that makes the sentence more vivid.
Sentence to Rewrite
- The room was very quiet after everyone left.
- The box was completely empty.
- Her smile disappeared after hearing the news.
- The hallway was deserted when we arrived.
- The street was silent after the parade ended.
- The refrigerator was bare after the shopping trip.
- His mood changed quickly after the argument.
- The classroom felt lonely after school.
- Her mind went blank during the test.
- The space in the attic was unused and dusty.
Answer Key
- The room was as quiet as an empty room after everyone left.
- The box was as empty as a bottle with no water.
- Her smile disappeared like a balloon deflating after hearing the news.
- The hallway was as vacant as a ghost town when we arrived.
- The street was as quiet as a snow-covered field after the parade ended.
- The refrigerator was as empty as a lunchbox after recess.
- His mood changed like a wind-blown leaf after the argument.
- The classroom felt as lonely as a vacant house after school.
- Her mind went blank like a book with blank pages during the test.
- The space in the attic was as unused as a broken vase.
Conclusion
Similes are a fun and creative way to describe emptiness. By using comparisons like “as empty as a desert” or “like a broken vase,” we can make our writing more colorful and vivid. The next time you need to express emptiness, try using one of these similes to paint a clearer picture for your reader. Practice using similes in your everyday conversations, and soon they will feel natural and easy to use.
