The old house stood on the hill, its windows like vacant eyes staring out at the desolate landscape. Which word could best replace "vacant" to emphasize a sense of emptiness and neglect, while maintaining the overall tone?
✓ Correct Answer: Option C
While "empty" and "blank" are close in denotation, "hollow" carries a stronger connotation of deep emptiness and perhaps a lack of life or purpose, aligning with the desolate tone.