Vacant-eyed

Describing a state of having eyes that lack focus, expression, or emotional engagement, often indicative of detachment, absentmindedness, shock, or a mental or emotional blankness. This appearance can suggest a person is not fully present in the moment or is experiencing inner turmoil, fatigue, or disassociation from their surroundings. The eyes appear hollow or devoid of the usual sparkle and animation, conveying a sense of emptiness or an inability to connect with the external world. The term highlights the contrast between the normal vibrancy of the eyes and their current, seemingly blank condition.

Vacant-eyed meaning with examples

• The survivor, still reeling from the disaster, stared with vacant eyes at the rescue workers, her gaze lost in a sea of shock and grief. Her face was pale, and her body was trembling. She appeared completely disconnected from the chaos surrounding her, her eyes mirroring the emptiness she felt inside and unable to respond to the questions of the workers.
• Lost in thought during the lecture, the student had a vacant-eyed expression as the professor droned on about complex theories. She was mentally miles away, her mind occupied by personal matters, and as a result, her attention drifted away from the lecture leaving an almost dreamy expression of her mind.
• After the long, grueling interrogation, the suspect sat slumped in the chair, his vacant eyes reflecting the exhaustion and mental fatigue he was experiencing. He hardly spoke, only nodding and looking away into the space in front of him. His blank stare offered no clues to the truth, only exhaustion and an intense desire to escape the current moment.
• The homeless man, huddled in the doorway, looked up at the passersby with vacant eyes, a reflection of his chronic despair and lack of hope. His gaze drifted across the busy street, his unseeing eyes conveyed a lack of connection to the hustle and bustle of the city, and he remained isolated in his own world.