empty words


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Noun1.empty words - loud and confused and empty talk; "mere rhetoric"
hokum, meaninglessness, nonsense, nonsensicality, bunk - a message that seems to convey no meaning
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in classic literature ?
-- "Glory, honor, probity!" said he, "you are but empty words."
But, besides these cold, formal, and empty words of the chisel that inscribes, the voice that speaks, and the pen that writes, for the public eye and for distant time,--and which inevitably lose much of their truth and freedom by the fatal consciousness of so doing,--there were traditions about the ancestor, and private diurnal gossip about the Judge, remarkably accordant in their testimony.
His hands Whiter than poplar leaves in windy springs, Shake with some palsy; and his stammering mouth Blurts out a foolish froth of empty words Like water from a conduit.
As for Betteredge, consistency of principle and dignity of conduct had become, in his case, mere empty words. He forgot that I was performing a conjuring trick on Mr.
Often one must listen to false protestations, empty words, strings of lies all day long, so that in the evening one is not fit for anything, not even for truth if it comes in one's way.
"These are all so many empty words, my dear sir," said Morcerf: "they might satisfy a new acquaintance, but the Comte de Morcerf does not rank in that list; and when a man like him comes to another, recalls to him his plighted word, and this man fails to redeem the pledge, he has at least a right to exact from him a good reason for so doing." Danglars was a coward, but did not wish to appear so; he was piqued at the tone which Morcerf had just assumed.
The college's new warden, Prof Frances Corner, said staff and students "care passionately about the future of our environment" and that "Declaring a climate emergency cannot be empty words".
Prof Frances Corner, of Goldsmiths, University of London, said: "Declaring a climate emergency cannot be empty words."
Now those very children are crying out for concerted action rather than just empty words" - Prince Charles on the pollution of oceans.
His threats are nothing but empty words to real terrorists.
Let us show that we are a civilized country, and transparency, objectivity and level playing field are not empty words.