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Showing results for vain. Search instead for vahin.
Definitions

vain

[veyn] / veɪn /
ADJECTIVE
egotistical
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arrogant cocky
WEAK
big-headed boastful conceited egocentric egoistic haughty high-and-mighty inflated narcissistic ostentatious overweening pleased with oneself proud puffed up self-important stuck-up swaggering swollen-headed vainglorious
Antonyms
STRONGEST
humble
WEAK
modest possible shy
ADJECTIVE
futile, useless
Synonyms
STRONGEST
frivolous fruitless petty trivial
WEAK
abortive barren bootless delusive delusory empty going nowhere hollow idle in vicious circle inefficacious insignificant misleading no-win not a prayer nugatory on a treadmill otiose paltry pointless profitless puny senseless shuck slight sterile time-wasting trifling unavailing unimportant unnotable unproductive unprofitable valueless void worthless
Antonyms
STRONGEST
consequential important significant useful
WEAK
modest possible shy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But Harper's salvo proved to be in vain as Venezuela regained the lead in the ninth inning, punishing a shaky performance from US reliever Garrett Whitlock to clinch victory.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

At the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, the staff tried in vain to save the program.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

The last few hours were all in vain.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

It is interesting that they’ve always been enormously vain about the originality of their policy insights, their perceiving before others the rise of populism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

I tried in vain to hear whether Mrs. Maroney was disclosing her secrets about her own wayward husband.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.