What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
vacuously
Example
He spoke vacuously, without saying anything of substance. [vacuously: adverb]
Example
The politician's speech was vacuous and lacked any real policy proposals. [vacuous: adjective]
thoughtlessly
Example
She thoughtlessly left her dirty dishes in the sink for days. [thoughtlessly: adverb]
Example
His thoughtless comment hurt her feelings. [thoughtless: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Thoughtlessly is more commonly used than vacuously in everyday language. Thoughtlessly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while vacuously is less common and has a more specific meaning.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between vacuously and thoughtlessly?
Both vacuously and thoughtlessly are informal words and are not typically used in formal writing or speech.
