What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
nothingness
Example
The void was filled with nothingness. [nothingness: noun]
Example
After the breakup, she felt a sense of nothingness. [nothingness: noun]
nothing
Example
There is nothing in the fridge. [nothing: pronoun]
Example
The meeting was about nothing important. [nothing: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Nothing is more commonly used than nothingness in everyday language. Nothing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while nothingness is less common and often used in philosophical or abstract contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between nothingness and nothing?
Both nothingness and nothing are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.