vainly

[ veyn-lee ]

adverb

1. in a way that shows or proceeds from excessive pride or concern over one’s appearance, favorable qualities, impression on others, etc.:

   Every time he leaves the room, he pauses to vainly admire his reflection in the mirror.

   I just got a box of business cards with my new degree “Ph.D.” on them—something I vainly insisted upon.

2. in an unsuccessful or futile way; in vain:

   She tried vainly to catch a glimpse of the canoe, which seemed to have dissolved suddenly into the mist.

3. in a way that is without real meaning, importance, or value:

   We talk a lot about things we like or dislike, but sad to say, we often talk vainly and to no purpose.

Other Words From

• un·vain·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of vainly¹

vain ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

It also compelled her to try, in vain, to persuade her friends and family to do the same.

From MIT Technology Review

All the further efforts of finding influencers and experts could be in vain if the topic you choose does not fit the roundup format, or doesn’t spark interest in your readers’ minds.

From Search Engine Watch

Elated by the crowd, the vain buffoonAbsorbing every drop they send his way,Digests them like a tangerine spittoon,Extending lockdown day by endless day.

From Washington Post

Abby Leafe, a registered Democrat who lives in suburban Philadelphia’s Bucks County, checked her mailbox Tuesday in vain for her ballot.

From Fortune

Moderator Chris Wallace — as a parent of preschoolers, I could empathize with his predicament — tried in vain to stop all the interrupting and steer the debate on his prescribed course.

From Ozy

Truth be told, the hope of destroying the rubes by ignoring them vainly ignores the most inescapable fact of our lives.

From The Daily Beast

They portrayed the Secretary as a kind of well-meaning but naïve Don Quixote flailing vainly against windmills.

From The Daily Beast

The old bulls sensed the cnunbling of their position and vainly tried to placate the reformers.

From The Daily Beast

As Hudson vainly tried to save Lopez, the Honda roared away on just the wheel rims.

From The Daily Beast

Can we justify manicures and tasteful highlights when others are vainly looking for work?

From The Daily Beast

Alone Orlean lay trying vainly to forget something—something that stood like a spectre before her eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

Colonel Case of the 32d, trying vainly with his men to stop the native runaways, was shot dead.

From Project Gutenberg

Vainly now did the Marquise seek to alter the captain's resolution; but in this she received a sudden check from Marius himself.

From Project Gutenberg

Wildly and vainly did he strive even then to cover up the foolish thing that he had done.

From Project Gutenberg

I round the threshold wandering here,Vainly the tempest and the rain invoke,That they may keep my lady prisoner.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• futilely
• unsuccessfully