vainly

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.

Alpha’s mom, who works in a hospital vainly treating these incurable patients, doesn’t want her only child to come down with the disease.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

England found some late urgency as they vainly chased the game.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

It is not to dash all our energy against a wave that’s not yet spent, trying vainly to roll it back to yesterday.

From Salon • May 1, 2025

Kittle ran past safety Julian Love, who vainly grabbed hold of him to try to slow him down, drawing a flag in the process.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 11, 2023

The white man shouted something to the black man, who then scuttled over to the door where my mother was desperately but vainly trying to calm me down.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane