Vacuously

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a way that reflects an absence of meaningful content or insight
2. In a manner lacking any real meaning or significant value
3. Expressing something empty of thought or genuine insight

Etymology: Vacuously is an inflected form: it is simply "vacuous" with the suffix "-ly" attached, turning the adjective into an adverb. The root is "vacuous", which comes from the Latin "vacuus", meaning empty. The adverb's trail runs through Germanic. The "-ly" ending descends from an old Germanic suffix meaning "like" or "in the manner of", which passed into Old English as "-līce" and became the ordinary "-ly" of modern English. So the ending carries the sense of "in the manner of" while the stem carries emptiness, and together they describe doing something in an empty way.

Synonyms: foolishly, silly, empty-headed, pointlessly, insipidly

Antonyms: intelligently, thoughtfully