diff --git a/docs/release-notes/mongoid-9.0.txt b/docs/release-notes/mongoid-9.0.txt
index f6974ac5d2..620f2a69a4 100644
--- a/docs/release-notes/mongoid-9.0.txt
+++ b/docs/release-notes/mongoid-9.0.txt
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ Deprecated functionality removed
   The method ``Mongoid::QueryCache#clear_cache`` should be replaced with ``Mongo::QueryCache#clear``.
   All other methods and submodules are identically named. Refer to the `driver query cache documentation
   <https://mongodb.com/docs/ruby-driver/current/reference/query-cache/>`_ for more details.
+- ``Object#blank_criteria?`` method is removed (was previously deprecated.)
 
 
 ``touch`` method now clears changed state
diff --git a/lib/mongoid/association/referenced/has_many/enumerable.rb b/lib/mongoid/association/referenced/has_many/enumerable.rb
index 131a095680..b388e404be 100644
--- a/lib/mongoid/association/referenced/has_many/enumerable.rb
+++ b/lib/mongoid/association/referenced/has_many/enumerable.rb
@@ -478,12 +478,48 @@ def set_base(document)
           end
 
           def unloaded_documents
-            if _unloaded.selector._mongoid_unsatisfiable_criteria?
+            if unsatisfiable_criteria?(_unloaded.selector)
               []
             else
               _unloaded
             end
           end
+
+          # Checks whether conditions in the given hash are known to be
+          # unsatisfiable, i.e. querying with this hash will always return no
+          # documents.
+          #
+          # This method only handles condition shapes that Mongoid itself uses when
+          # it builds association queries. Return value true indicates the condition
+          # always produces an empty document set. Note however that return value false
+          # is not a guarantee that the condition won't produce an empty document set.
+          #
+          # @example Unsatisfiable conditions
+          #   unsatisfiable_criteria?({'_id' => {'$in' => []}})
+          #   # => true
+          #
+          # @example Conditions which may be satisfiable
+          #   unsatisfiable_criteria?({'_id' => '123'})
+          #   # => false
+          #
+          # @example Conditions which are unsatisfiable that this method does not handle
+          #   unsatisfiable_criteria?({'foo' => {'$in' => []}})
+          #   # => false
+          #
+          # @param [ Hash ] selector The conditions to check.
+          #
+          # @return [ true | false ] Whether hash contains known unsatisfiable
+          #   conditions.
+          def unsatisfiable_criteria?(selector)
+            unsatisfiable_criteria = { '_id' => { '$in' => [] } }
+            return true if selector == unsatisfiable_criteria
+            return false unless selector.length == 1 && selector.keys == %w[$and]
+
+            value = selector.values.first
+            value.is_a?(Array) && value.any? do |sub_value|
+              sub_value.is_a?(Hash) && unsatisfiable_criteria?(sub_value)
+            end
+          end
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/mongoid/extensions/array.rb b/lib/mongoid/extensions/array.rb
index 072a1d42b4..5188ca557a 100644
--- a/lib/mongoid/extensions/array.rb
+++ b/lib/mongoid/extensions/array.rb
@@ -55,26 +55,6 @@ def __mongoize_time__
         ::Time.configured.local(*self)
       end
 
-      # Checks whether conditions given in this array are known to be
-      # unsatisfiable, i.e., querying with this array will always return no
-      # documents.
-      #
-      # This method used to assume that the array is the list of criteria
-      # to be used with an $and operator. This assumption is no longer made;
-      # therefore, since the interpretation of conditions in the array differs
-      # between $and, $or and $nor operators, this method now always returns
-      # false.
-      #
-      # This method is deprecated. Mongoid now uses
-      # +_mongoid_unsatisfiable_criteria?+ internally; this method is retained
-      # for backwards compatibility only. It always returns false.
-      #
-      # @return [ false ] Always false.
-      # @deprecated
-      def blank_criteria?
-        false
-      end
-
       # Is the array a set of multiple arguments in a method?
       #
       # @example Is this multi args?
@@ -175,5 +155,3 @@ def resizable?
 
 ::Array.__send__(:include, Mongoid::Extensions::Array)
 ::Array.extend(Mongoid::Extensions::Array::ClassMethods)
-
-::Mongoid.deprecate(Array, :blank_criteria)
diff --git a/lib/mongoid/extensions/hash.rb b/lib/mongoid/extensions/hash.rb
index 1cf19d539d..435dc1afd5 100644
--- a/lib/mongoid/extensions/hash.rb
+++ b/lib/mongoid/extensions/hash.rb
@@ -47,54 +47,6 @@ def __consolidate__(klass)
       end
       Mongoid.deprecate(self, :__consolidate__)
 
-      # Checks whether conditions given in this hash are known to be
-      # unsatisfiable, i.e., querying with this hash will always return no
-      # documents.
-      #
-      # This method only handles condition shapes that Mongoid itself uses when
-      # it builds association queries. It does not guarantee that a false
-      # return value means the condition can produce a non-empty document set -
-      # only that if the return value is true, the condition always produces
-      # an empty document set.
-      #
-      # @example Unsatisfiable conditions
-      #   {'_id' => {'$in' => []}}._mongoid_unsatisfiable_criteria?
-      #   # => true
-      #
-      # @example Conditions which could be satisfiable
-      #   {'_id' => '123'}._mongoid_unsatisfiable_criteria?
-      #   # => false
-      #
-      # @example Conditions which are unsatisfiable that this method does not handle
-      #   {'foo' => {'$in' => []}}._mongoid_unsatisfiable_criteria?
-      #   # => false
-      #
-      # @return [ true | false ] Whether hash contains known unsatisfiable
-      #   conditions.
-      # @api private
-      def _mongoid_unsatisfiable_criteria?
-        unsatisfiable_criteria = { "_id" => { "$in" => [] }}
-        return true if self == unsatisfiable_criteria
-        return false unless length == 1 && keys == %w($and)
-        value = values.first
-        value.is_a?(Array) && value.any? do |sub_v|
-          sub_v.is_a?(Hash) && sub_v._mongoid_unsatisfiable_criteria?
-        end
-      end
-
-      # Checks whether conditions given in this hash are known to be
-      # unsatisfiable, i.e., querying with this hash will always return no
-      # documents.
-      #
-      # This method is deprecated. Mongoid now uses
-      # +_mongoid_unsatisfiable_criteria?+ internally; this method is retained
-      # for backwards compatibility only.
-      #
-      # @return [ true | false ] Whether hash contains known unsatisfiable
-      #   conditions.
-      # @deprecated
-      alias :blank_criteria? :_mongoid_unsatisfiable_criteria?
-
       # Deletes an id value from the hash.
       #
       # @example Delete an id value.
@@ -192,5 +144,3 @@ def resizable?
 
 ::Hash.__send__(:include, Mongoid::Extensions::Hash)
 ::Hash.extend(Mongoid::Extensions::Hash::ClassMethods)
-
-::Mongoid.deprecate(Hash, :blank_criteria)
diff --git a/lib/mongoid/extensions/object.rb b/lib/mongoid/extensions/object.rb
index 089269bc7e..52fa4b4b37 100644
--- a/lib/mongoid/extensions/object.rb
+++ b/lib/mongoid/extensions/object.rb
@@ -84,21 +84,6 @@ def __to_inc__
       end
       Mongoid.deprecate(self, :__to_inc__)
 
-      # Checks whether conditions given in this object are known to be
-      # unsatisfiable, i.e., querying with this object will always return no
-      # documents.
-      #
-      # This method is deprecated. Mongoid now uses
-      # +_mongoid_unsatisfiable_criteria?+ internally; this method is retained
-      # for backwards compatibility only. It always returns false.
-      #
-      # @return [ false ] Always false.
-      # @deprecated
-      def blank_criteria?
-        false
-      end
-      Mongoid.deprecate(self, :blank_criteria?)
-
       # Do or do not, there is no try. -- Yoda.
       #
       # @example Do or do not.
diff --git a/spec/mongoid/extensions/array_spec.rb b/spec/mongoid/extensions/array_spec.rb
index 49c402986e..e9fa5b2fde 100644
--- a/spec/mongoid/extensions/array_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/mongoid/extensions/array_spec.rb
@@ -378,34 +378,6 @@
     end
   end
 
-  describe "#blank_criteria?" do
-
-    context "when the array has an empty _id criteria" do
-
-      context "when only the id criteria is in the array" do
-
-        let(:array) do
-          [{ "_id" => { "$in" => [] }}]
-        end
-
-        it "is false" do
-          expect(array.blank_criteria?).to be false
-        end
-      end
-
-      context "when the id criteria is in the array with others" do
-
-        let(:array) do
-          [{ "_id" => "test" }, { "_id" => { "$in" => [] }}]
-        end
-
-        it "is false" do
-          expect(array.blank_criteria?).to be false
-        end
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
   describe "#delete_one" do
 
     context "when the object doesn't exist" do
diff --git a/spec/mongoid/extensions/hash_spec.rb b/spec/mongoid/extensions/hash_spec.rb
index bcc1a58d6f..5d797a14da 100644
--- a/spec/mongoid/extensions/hash_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/mongoid/extensions/hash_spec.rb
@@ -294,107 +294,4 @@
       expect(Hash).to be_resizable
     end
   end
-
-  shared_examples_for 'unsatisfiable criteria method' do
-
-    context "when the hash has only an empty _id criteria" do
-
-      let(:hash) do
-        { "_id" => { "$in" => [] }}
-      end
-
-      it "is true" do
-        expect(hash.send(meth)).to be true
-      end
-    end
-
-    context "when the hash has an empty _id criteria and another criteria" do
-
-      let(:hash) do
-        { "_id" => { "$in" => [] }, 'foo' => 'bar'}
-      end
-
-      it "is false" do
-        expect(hash.send(meth)).to be false
-      end
-    end
-
-    context "when the hash has an empty _id criteria via $and" do
-
-      let(:hash) do
-        {'$and' => [{ "_id" => { "$in" => [] }}]}
-      end
-
-      it "is true" do
-        expect(hash.send(meth)).to be true
-      end
-    end
-
-    context "when the hash has an empty _id criteria via $and and another criteria at top level" do
-
-      let(:hash) do
-        {'$and' => [{ "_id" => { "$in" => [] }}], 'foo' => 'bar'}
-      end
-
-      it "is false" do
-        expect(hash.send(meth)).to be false
-      end
-    end
-
-    context "when the hash has an empty _id criteria via $and and another criteria in $and" do
-
-      let(:hash) do
-        {'$and' => [{ "_id" => { "$in" => [] }}, {'foo' => 'bar'}]}
-      end
-
-      it "is true" do
-        expect(hash.send(meth)).to be true
-      end
-    end
-
-    context "when the hash has an empty _id criteria via $and and another criteria in $and value" do
-
-      let(:hash) do
-        {'$and' => [{ "_id" => { "$in" => [] }, 'foo' => 'bar'}]}
-      end
-
-      it "is false" do
-        expect(hash.send(meth)).to be false
-      end
-    end
-
-    context "when the hash has an empty _id criteria via $or" do
-
-      let(:hash) do
-        {'$or' => [{ "_id" => { "$in" => [] }}]}
-      end
-
-      it "is false" do
-        expect(hash.send(meth)).to be false
-      end
-    end
-
-    context "when the hash has an empty _id criteria via $nor" do
-
-      let(:hash) do
-        {'$nor' => [{ "_id" => { "$in" => [] }}]}
-      end
-
-      it "is false" do
-        expect(hash.send(meth)).to be false
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
-  describe "#blank_criteria?" do
-    let(:meth) { :blank_criteria? }
-
-    it_behaves_like 'unsatisfiable criteria method'
-  end
-
-  describe "#_mongoid_unsatisfiable_criteria?" do
-    let(:meth) { :_mongoid_unsatisfiable_criteria? }
-
-    it_behaves_like 'unsatisfiable criteria method'
-  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/mongoid/extensions/object_spec.rb b/spec/mongoid/extensions/object_spec.rb
index 4b2e294ded..73c01fb680 100644
--- a/spec/mongoid/extensions/object_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/mongoid/extensions/object_spec.rb
@@ -265,11 +265,4 @@
       expect(object.numeric?).to eq(false)
     end
   end
-
-  describe "#blank_criteria?" do
-
-    it "is false" do
-      expect(object.blank_criteria?).to be false
-    end
-  end
 end