empty laugh

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "empty laugh" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a laugh that lacks genuine emotion or sincerity, often indicating that the person is not truly amused or happy. Example: "Her response was just an empty laugh, revealing her true feelings of disappointment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I was 18 at the time and totally out of my depth, so I joked, "maybe just elope", to which she replied, "yeah, maybe the problem is him!" It was a joke and she did laugh, but it was the kind of empty laugh that doesn't reach a person's eyes.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

There is No Money Laughter, a pose in which initiates pretend that their pockets are empty, and then laugh; and Visa Bill Laughter, in which they point to an imaginary Visa bill in their palm, and laugh; and Milk Shake Laughter, in which they pretend to pour milk back and forth between two cups, and laugh.

The New Yorker

He pointed to an empty chair and laughed.

The New Yorker

Attracted by the screaming, Felicity enters and sits on the toilet, holding an empty glass and laughing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Cycling on an empty stomach is no laughing matter.

The Guardian

Girls would look for shells just as their grandmothers did generations before them, boys would help bail out the rain from their fathers' boats every morning, and the shoreline would never be empty of naked children laughing, swimming and doing handstands in the surf.

BBC

"Even though I enjoyed Headingley 1995, I don't actually want to go back there - a half-empty ground, everyone laughing at how bad we are, Carl Hooper scoring 60 in 30 balls as they knock off 120 in 19 overs.

BBC

He splashed wine into the diners' empty glasses and didn't laugh.

The New Yorker

Yesterday, Mora stood in an empty interview room, grunted a laugh when reminded of his praise and shrugged.

The New York Times - Sports

"Time and 'Moon Over Buffalo' have also reinforced my long-held suspicion that Ms. Burnett can locate a laugh in an empty laundry hamper," Vincent Canby wrote in his review in The New York Times, a not exactly rave referral to the play's humor.

The New York Times

Following each failed dig, Max would yell, "Empty!" Soon, he wasn't laughing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "empty laugh" to convey a lack of genuine amusement, often indicating underlying sadness, discomfort, or insincerity. It's particularly effective in describing characters who are trying to mask their true feelings.

Common error

Avoid using "empty laugh" in scenarios where characters are genuinely happy or amused. Reserve it for situations where the laugh is a facade or a coping mechanism to prevent dilution of its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "empty laugh" functions as a descriptive element, modifying the noun "laugh" with the adjective "empty" to indicate a specific quality of the laughter – its lack of genuine emotion. Ludwig shows that this adjective-noun combination creates a vivid image in the reader's mind.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "empty laugh" effectively describes a laugh devoid of genuine emotion, often used to portray characters masking true feelings or reacting without real amusement. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and appears mainly in news and media sources. While not exceedingly common, understanding its usage and nuances, along with related phrases like "hollow chuckle" or "insincere laugh", can enhance your writing precision and descriptive abilities. It is useful to avoid overusing the phrase in the contexts requiring genuine joy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

insincere laugh

Substitutes "empty" with "insincere", highlighting the lack of genuine feeling behind the laugh.

shallow laugh

Implies a lack of depth or sincerity, suggesting that the laugh is superficial and lacks genuine emotion.

forced laugh

Emphasizes that the laugh is not spontaneous but compelled, implying underlying tension or discomfort.

artificial laugh

Replaces "empty" with "artificial", suggesting the laugh is forced or unnatural.

vacant laugh

Conveys a sense of emptiness and detachment, suggesting that the laugh is devoid of genuine feeling or thought.

hollow chuckle

Replaces "laugh" with "chuckle", implying a softer, less hearty sound, and "empty" with "hollow", emphasizing the lack of genuine emotion.

expressionless laugh

Highlights the lack of emotional expression accompanying the laugh, suggesting a flat or emotionless affect.

meaningless laugh

Indicates that the laugh lacks significance or purpose, suggesting a sense of detachment or apathy.

unenthusiastic laugh

Suggests a lack of excitement or genuine amusement, implying that the laugh is perfunctory or obligatory.

spiritless laugh

Emphasizes the absence of vitality or enthusiasm, conveying a sense of weariness or resignation.

FAQs

What does "empty laugh" mean?

An "empty laugh" describes a laugh that lacks genuine emotion or sincerity. It suggests the person isn't truly amused or happy, and may be using laughter to mask other feelings.

What can I say instead of "empty laugh"?

You can use alternatives like "hollow chuckle", "insincere laugh", or "forced laugh" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How do I use "empty laugh" in a sentence?

You can use "empty laugh" to describe someone's reaction. For example, "Her response was just an "empty laugh", revealing her true feelings of disappointment."

What is the difference between "empty laugh" and "hollow laugh"?

While both describe a lack of genuineness, "empty laugh" emphasizes the absence of real emotion, while "hollow laugh" might suggest a deeper sense of sadness or loss beneath the surface.