hollow statement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hollow statement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a statement that lacks substance or meaning, often used in discussions about rhetoric or communication. Example: "The politician's speech was filled with hollow statements that failed to address the real issues facing the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The recent hollow statement by the Vatican on clerical sex abuse in Ireland is not surprising considering the litany of mismanagement by the Irish Catholic Church regarding the welfare of Irish children.

The New York Times

I thought, 'Jesus, I bet your dad told you to say that.' What a hollow statement.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Hollow statements by Israel's enemies are presented without comment.

The New York Times

"The shifting of deadlines, hollow statements and false promises has to end.

BBC

It's all about policy, we write, and not hollow statements.

Huffington Post

Facebook's legendarily fast and loose approach to user privacy has long been something of a cliché, which is why deleting one's account is now something of a hollow techno-political statement – the Internet equivalent to moving off the grid to a cabin in the mountains.

The New York Times

Either you spend four years being strait-jacketed into hollow on-brief statements written by your mandarins, or you put up with the pre-emptive laughter of the people who think you're a loose canon, a fringe grown sentient, Basil Brexit, Herr Bean, everything you built this caricature for, in order to seduce a headlines-only popular press has now been turned against you, and it's inescapable.

Vice

Along with taking over $12 billion from one of the largest cigarette companies, that makes the mission statement ring hollow.

TechCrunch

This statement sounds hollow to people who are missing the one who died, and certainly is meaningless to those in the congregation who do not believe in an afterlife.

Huffington Post

But many people thought the statement rang hollow because of Trump's long history of disparaging marginalized groups, scapegoating Muslims, mocking disabled people, boasting of sexual assault, and promising to lift certain protections for the LGBTQ community. .

Huffington Post

And yet, somehow, no matter how long and committed her earnest public service, she was less trusted than Trump, a flim-flam man who cheated his customers, investors, and contractors; a hollow man whose countless statements and behavior reflect a human being of dismal qualities — greedy, mendacious, and bigoted.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hollow statement" when you want to emphasize that a statement lacks sincerity, substance, or genuine commitment. It is particularly effective when highlighting the discrepancy between words and actions.

Common error

Avoid labeling a statement as "hollow statement" simply because you disagree with it. The term implies a deeper lack of substance or sincerity, not just a difference in opinion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hollow statement" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "hollow" modifies the noun "statement". It describes a statement lacking substance, sincerity or genuine commitment. The Ludwig AI examples showcase its use across diverse news domains.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hollow statement" refers to declarations lacking substance or genuine commitment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, particularly within news and media contexts. While not frequently used, the phrase serves to express skepticism or critique the sincerity of a statement. Alternatives like "empty declaration" or "insincere remark" offer nuanced replacements, depending on the intended emphasis. When employing this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects a deficiency in substance or sincerity, rather than a mere difference of opinion. The phrase is typically neutral in register, fitting diverse scenarios while conveying the absence of genuineness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

empty declaration

Focuses on the lack of genuine content or intention in the statement.

meaningless assertion

Emphasizes the lack of significance or importance in the statement.

insincere remark

Highlights the lack of genuine feeling or belief behind the statement.

artificial pronouncement

Suggests that the statement is forced, unnatural, or not genuinely felt.

vacuous comment

Emphasizes the lack of intelligence or substance in the statement.

worthless communication

Highlights the lack of value or usefulness of the statement.

shallow utterance

Focuses on the superficiality and lack of depth in the statement.

pointless remark

Highlights the lack of purpose or relevance of the statement.

inane observation

Emphasizes the silliness or foolishness of the statement.

futile declaration

Highlights the uselessness or ineffectiveness of the statement.

FAQs

How can I use "hollow statement" in a sentence?

You can use "hollow statement" to describe declarations that lack genuine feeling or substance. For example, "The politician's promise of change rang hollow, dismissed as a "hollow statement" after years of inaction."

What's a good alternative to "hollow statement"?

Alternatives include "empty declaration", "insincere remark", or "meaningless assertion". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. /s/Empty+declaration emphasizes the lack of content, /s/insincere+remark highlights the lack of genuineness and /s/meaningless+assertion stresses that the statement has no importance.

Is it correct to say a statement 'rings hollow'?

Yes, the phrase "rings hollow" is a common idiom used to describe a statement that seems insincere or lacks credibility. It's often used interchangeably with referring to something as a "hollow statement".

What makes a statement a "hollow statement" rather than simply incorrect?

A "hollow statement" is not necessarily factually wrong but lacks genuine intent or commitment. It may be technically correct but lacks the backing of sincere belief or the promise of real action. A false statement is factually untrue.