vain

[ veyn ]

/ veɪn /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR vain ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, vain·er, vain·est.

excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited: a vain dandy.

proceeding from or showing pride in or concern about one's appearance, qualities, etc.; resulting from or displaying vanity: He made some vain remarks about his accomplishments.

ineffectual or unsuccessful; futile: vain hopes; a vain effort; a vain war.

without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless: vain pageantry; vain display.

Archaic. senseless or foolish.

Nearby words

vagus nerve, vagus pulse, vahana, vahine, vail, vain, vainglorious, vainglory, vair, vaisheshika, vaishnava

Idioms

in vain,

without effect or avail; to no purpose: lives lost in vain; to apologize in vain.
in an improper or irreverent manner: to take God's name in vain.

Origin of vain

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French < Latin vānus empty, vain

SYNONYMS FOR vain

1 egotistical, self-complacent, vainglorious, proud, arrogant, overweening.

3 fruitless, unavailing.

4 unimportant, trivial, trifling, nugatory. See useless.

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ANTONYMS FOR vain

1 humble.

3 useful.

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Related forms

vain·ly, adverbvain·ness, nounun·vain, adjectiveun·vain·ly, adverb

un·vain·ness, noun

Can be confused

vain vane vein

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vainly

Truth be told, the hope of destroying the rubes by ignoring them vainly ignores the most inescapable fact of our lives.
From Smarm To Snark, We’re All Soldiers In The War On Obscurity|James Poulos|December 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The old bulls sensed the cnunbling of their position and vainly tried to placate the reformers.
Memo: The Aaron Sorkin Model of Political Discourse Doesn't Actually Work|Megan McArdle|April 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
As Hudson vainly tried to save Lopez, the Honda roared away on just the wheel rims.
Cop Who Protected Obama, Romney, at Debate Latest Victim of Illegal Guns|Michael Daly|October 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Can we justify manicures and tasteful highlights when others are vainly looking for work?
But Can We Still Have Fun?|Kathleen Parker|January 19, 2009|DAILY BEAST

Before Jean could answer, the policeman stretched out his hand and touched the young woman, who had been vainly trying to get out.
Mrs. Dorriman, Volume 2 of 3|Julie Bosville Chetwynd
Vainly should I undertake to paint my emotion on this action of his!
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XXI. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle
I vainly try to get down upon paper the dreariness, the ugliness, shabbiness, un-home-likeness of a Roman street.
Passages From the French and Italian Notebooks, Volume 1|Nathaniel Hawthorne
He had vainly tried the whimsical experiment of judging of the contents by the sense of touch.
Poppea of the Post-Office|Mabel Osgood Wright
Let it not be vainly imagined, that our state of civilization must prevent the moral degeneracy here threatened.
A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Middle and Higher Classes in this Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity.|William Wilberforce

British Dictionary definitions for vainly

vain

/ (veɪn) /

adjective

inordinately proud of one's appearance, possessions, or achievements

given to ostentatious display, esp of one's beauty

worthless

senseless or futile

noun

in vain to no avail; fruitlessly

take someone's name in vain

to use the name of someone, esp God, without due respect or reverence
jocular to mention someone's name

Derived Forms

vainly, adverbvainness, noun

Word Origin for vain

C13: via Old French from Latin vānus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with vainly

vain

see in vain; take someone's name in vain.