Emptyhanded

adj

adj ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    With nothing in one's hands.

    "Near-synonyms: unburdened, unencumbered, unladen"

  2. 2
    Impoverished; having no money or resources.

    "As he walked about in the village, Isaac saw those inhabitants who had come to the Land emptyhanded and now own fields and vineyards and houses full of good things, not by virtue of observing the Torah and pious deeds, for the Biluim were free thinkers and their feet too are on the ground, but because they're Russians and I'm from Galicia, and even the one small village the Galicians put up fell to rack and ruin."

  3. 3
    Having nothing to offer.

    "I come to this conference bearing neither a new slogan nor a basket full of gifts. But I do not come emptyhanded. I come with the promise of the Government and people of the United States to work with you..."

  4. 4
    Having received or acquired nothing.

    "Returning "emptyhanded" doesn't always mean that you didn't get what you set out for."

  5. 5
    Having nothing to offer; unable to give what was promised.

    "...he promised to get concessions on container handling, and he cannot go to the dockers emptyhanded."

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  1. 6
    Unarmed.

    "...for he has come on an ambassage and he has come emptyhanded (not armed)."

Synonyms

All synonyms
almslessarmbadly offbankruptbeggaredbeggarly

Example

More examples

"Near-synonyms: unburdened, unencumbered, unladen"

Etymology

From empty + handed.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.