Word
devoid
Phoneticsde·void, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈvɔɪd/
UK/dɪvˈɔɪd/
Definition
adj. completely without something, especially a quality like feeling or life.
adj. entirely lacking or empty of a particular quality, substance, or attribute. Used predicatively and followed by the preposition 'of'.
Examples
“The room was devoid of furniture.”
“The desert landscape appeared devoid of any visible life or vegetation.”
“His speech was devoid of emotion, delivered in a flat monotone that failed to engage the audience.”
Examples
simple
“The room was devoid of furniture.”
contextual
“The desert landscape appeared devoid of any visible life or vegetation.”
complex
“His speech was devoid of emotion, delivered in a flat monotone that failed to engage the audience.”
Usage
This adjective is used after a verb like 'be' or 'seem' and must be followed by 'of' plus a noun phrase.
Pitfall
The room was devoid from furniture.
The room was devoid of furniture.
Always use the preposition 'of' after devoid; do not use 'from' or 'with'.
Real-World Examples
“Listening to realms that may seem devoid of life invokes new understanding and can highlight the vibrancy of life, thriving in overlooked places.” “Escapism is never devoid of the anxiety it’s running from, and of course lots of things beyond musicals can help us run from our problems.” “Beach party films: Beach Party and similar movies were heavy on fun, light on moral lessons and almost entirely devoid of adults.” Etymology
From obsolete Middle English verb devoiden, from Old French desvuidier (“to empty out”) (compare French dévider).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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