empty face

USAGE SUMMARY

"empty face" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's expression when they are emotionless or blank. For example, "The young girl had an empty face when she heard the bad news."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Bony, empty face that wore its emptiness openly.

The Guardian - Books

In his diary he describes her as having an "empty face that wore its emptiness openly".

The New York Times - Books

There are yellow scraps of fish nets, an old tennis racquet, and a dress mannequin with an enigmatic, empty face.

The New York Times

Bob Dylan took the cute, empty face of pop music and forced meaning down its throat... Dylan has always mattered to me in a very fundamental way.

The Guardian - Books

Love, Dear Martin, Janis and I are in Ontario in the top storey of her parents' farmhouse looking into the falling snow, trees, fields, a pond, and staring directly into the empty face of a Trojan-helmet chimney emitting smoke from wood chopped by me.

The Guardian - Books

Her empty face stares up at the blinking stars.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"Chic clothes but empty faces," she said.

The Economist

Empty faces, lurid, completely fake Art Deco sets and lots of gold sequins are not.

The New York Times

I listen to its muffled, multilingual murmur, like the rush of the sea; a slow human whirlpool spins me around, and tired, empty faces flash by — as empty as my own; eyeglasses glint; the pages of guidebooks rustle.

The New Yorker

And then I see that my people don't count because they can be snatched away or neglected or abused or forgotten, with no reckoning, no fault assigned, as if they, he, she, we had never been anything other than empty faces, empty words, smoke and mirrors.

The New Yorker

Thousands of people crammed together and coasting past them with empty faces.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "empty face" to describe a person's expression when they are deliberately withholding emotion, or when they are in a state of shock, grief, or detachment.

Common error

Avoid using "empty face" when describing sadness alone. While sadness can contribute to a lack of expression, "empty face" often suggests a deeper sense of detachment, shock, or a deliberate suppression of emotion. Use alternatives like "sad face" or "tearful expression" when the primary emotion is sadness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "empty face" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a descriptive element within a sentence. It modifies a subject, providing detail about their appearance. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is valid and effectively describes a lack of emotion or expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "empty face" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English, albeit not extremely common. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it's employed to depict a face devoid of emotion, often indicative of shock, detachment, or a deliberate masking of feelings. While applicable across different registers, it tends to appear more frequently in News & Media and scientific contexts. When writing, it's important to remember that an "empty face" goes beyond simple sadness; it suggests a deeper emotional absence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vacant expression

Focuses on the lack of discernible emotion in the facial expression.

blank stare

Emphasizes the fixed and unseeing quality of the gaze.

expressionless countenance

Uses more formal language to describe a face lacking expression.

lifeless features

Highlights the absence of vitality in the facial features.

deadpan look

Suggests a deliberate suppression of emotion, often for comedic effect.

inscrutable face

Suggests that the face is impossible to interpret or understand.

impassive facade

Emphasizes the artificial or constructed nature of the lack of emotion.

wooden features

Implies a stiffness and lack of natural movement in the face.

hollow gaze

Focuses on the eyes as conveying a sense of emptiness or loss.

stony expression

Conveys a cold and unfeeling demeanor.

FAQs

What does it mean to describe someone's face as "empty face"?

Describing someone's "empty face" suggests a lack of emotion, expression, or affect. It can indicate shock, grief, detachment, or a deliberate attempt to conceal feelings.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "empty face"?

Use "empty face" when you want to emphasize the absence of discernible emotion in someone's expression. It's particularly fitting when the person is experiencing a significant emotional event or is deliberately masking their feelings.

What are some alternative phrases to "empty face"?

Alternatives include "vacant expression", "blank stare", or "expressionless countenance". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "empty face" the same as "sad face"?

No, while sadness can be a component, "empty face" suggests a broader absence of emotion or a state of detachment beyond simple sadness. A "sad face" specifically conveys sorrow or unhappiness, while "empty face" suggests a lack of any clear emotional display.