CAME UP EMPTY Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

came up empty

phrase

past tense of come up empty

as in failed

to be unsuccessful We searched for a viable candidate but came up empty.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for came up empty

Phrase

An effort by the statewide county superintendents association to limit that authority fell short last week when its proposal was never introduced as a bill.

— Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 1 Sep. 2026
When applied to the creative industries, traditional solutions fell short for the average creator.

— Coco Mao, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of fell short

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

came up

came up empty

came up with

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Came up empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/came%20up%20empty. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of came up empty

phrase

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

recalcitrant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes