devoid

[ dih-void ]

adjective

1. not possessing, untouched by, void, or destitute (usually followed by of ).

   Synonyms: barren, bereft, destitute, wanting, lacking

verb (used with object)

1. to deplete or strip of some quality or substance:

   imprisonment that devoids a person of humanity.

devoid

/ dɪˈvɔɪd /

adjective

1. postpositivefoll byof destitute or void (of); free (from)

Word History and Origins

Origin of devoid¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of devoid¹

C15: originally past participle of devoid ( vb ) to remove, from Old French devoidier, from de- de- + voider to void

Example Sentences

Like the movie, whose commercial and critical success suggests people approve, it’s pokey and self-serious and almost entirely devoid of humor.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s far less than it was before the election, and devoid of almost any cable TV news.

From Salon

In a performance devoid of any positive energy, Pegula struggled to cope with the Czech's huge serves, including 11 aces, and hit just four winners in a match lasting little more than an hour.

From BBC

Defence lawyers responded that Whitla was impaired by a low IQ and claimed the challenge was devoid of merit.

From BBC

To others, it looked an awful lot like a man in decline, devoid of any intellectual curiosity or ability to accept good-faith criticism, resorting to petty insults to obscure his own fundamental lack of understanding.

From Salon

Related Words

• bare
• barren
• lacking
• vacant