Feeling Wheel
What feeling empty is like
Feeling empty means life feels hollow, lacking meaning or fulfilment. You might be busy and surrounded by people and still feel it.
If this feeling has stayed with you for a while, or you feel unsafe, please talk to someone you trust or a doctor. If you're in danger right now, contact your local emergency services.
Empty or numb?
Empty is feeling something important is missing. Numb is not being able to feel much at all. Read more about feeling numb.
Finding empty on the feelings wheel
On the Feeling Wheel, empty sits in the Sad group. Start in the middle of the wheel with sad, then move outwards to empty. If it's close but not quite right, the other sad words below may fit better. It's also normal to feel more than one thing at once.
Other words in the Sad group
Sad words range from a mild let-down to deep grief and hopelessness.
- Bleak Feeling hopeless or discouraged about the future
- Depressed Feeling deep unhappiness or sadness
- Hurt Feeling emotional pain or distress
- Deflated Feeling temporarily let down or disappointed
- Melancholy Feeling deep, reflective sadness
- Sorrowful Feeling grief or sadness
- Gloomy Feeling pessimistic or downcast
- Discouraged Feeling a loss of confidence or enthusiasm
- Insignificant Feeling unimportant or overlooked
- Broken Feeling deeply emotionally damaged
- Bored Feeling uninterested or weary
- Numb Feeling unable to experience emotions
- Apathetic Feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern
- Despair Feeling complete loss of hope
- Disillusioned Feeling disappointed that reality isn’t as expected
- Miserable Feeling extremely unhappy or uncomfortable
- Disappointed Feeling sad that expectations weren’t met
- Indifferent Feeling no strong pull in any direction
Name what you're feeling
Feeling Wheel puts all 118 of these words on one wheel. Tap the ones that fit, add a note if you like, and see your patterns over time. Free on iPhone and Android.