Emptyhanded
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Part of speech adjective
Quick meaning: Emptyhanded is an adjective meaning With nothing in one's hands.
Meaning
With nothing in one's hands.
More Meanings
- Impoverished; having no money or resources.
- Having nothing to offer.
- Having received or acquired nothing.
- Having nothing to offer; unable to give what was promised.
- Unarmed.
Example Sentences
Near-synonyms: unburdened, unencumbered, unladen
Returning "emptyhanded" doesn't always mean that you didn't get what you set out for.
...he promised to get concessions on container handling, and he cannot go to the dockers emptyhanded.
Antar neglected his boat and his nets for three days on end, and when, on the entreaties of his wife and children, he brought himself to go back to sea, he came back in the evening emptyhanded.
Word Forms
- empty-handed
Synonyms for emptyhanded
Depending on context, synonyms include unburdened, unencumbered, unladen, almsless, arm, bankrupt.
Antonyms for emptyhanded
Common opposites include full-handed.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include empty-handed, empty, freehanded, dry-handed, handless, barehanded.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.