hollow out

Empty the interior

To hollow out is to remove the interior of something, leaving an empty shell: Hollow out the pumpkin before carving.

The phrase extends to gradual depletion that leaves only an outer form: Decades of cost-cutting had hollowed out the department.

Industries, institutions, and neighborhoods can be hollowed out when their substance drains away while the structure remains.

deplete

gut

Digestive tract, or instinct

emptyHolding nothing inside
drainChannel for wastewater
stripNarrow elongated piece

weaken · erode · undermine · diminish · devitalize · exhaust · sap · eviscerate · shell · husk

excavate

dig

Unearth by shoveling

tunnelEnclosed underground route
burrowAnimal's dug dwelling
mineOre excavation site

quarry · dredge · trench · undermine · bore · drill · pit · cavity · chamber · cave

carve

scoop

First-reported story

gougeConcave carving blade
chiselEdged carving implement
whittleCarve by shaving layers

sculpt · engrave · etch · shape · incise · groove · channel · pare · shave · ream

Categories

excavationdig, excavation, excavating, excavator, digging
undermineweaken, erode, sabotage, subvert, destabilize
depletedeplete, drain, exhaust, use up, consume
emptyingempty, drain, dump, flush, evacuate

Opposites

MATERIAL REMOVAL vs. ADDITION

hollow outfill in

Temporarily replace someone

fill · stuff · fill up · pack · plug

CREATING EMPTINESS vs. CREATING FULLNESS

hollow outfill up

Occupy entirely

fill in · top off · replenish · flood · saturate

WEAKENING/DEPLETING vs. STRENGTHENING/BUILDING UP (figurative)

hollow outbuild up

Grow by increments

strengthen · fortify · reinforce · shore up · solidify

Family

hole, out, hollow, hollows, hollowed, hollowness, hollowing, unhallowed, hollower

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G