COMES UP EMPTY Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

comes up empty

phrase

present tense third-person singular of come up empty

as in fails

to be unsuccessful We searched for a viable candidate but came up empty.

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for comes up empty

falls short

Phrase

The agreement falls short of the entertainment industry’s goal of a full exemption from a $5 million annual cap on corporate tax credits, according to multiple sources.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
But Hastings argued that getting too close makes employees feel protected, even when their performance falls short.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of falls short

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comes up

comes up empty

comes up with

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“Comes up empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comes%20up%20empty. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of comes up empty

phrase

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