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.

"Otherwise it will all have been in vain."

From Barron's

It is a slog she has dealt with for years, while searching in vain for reasonably priced housing near work.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nuzzi writes that “we were both of us, vain, and our shared reverence for physical beauty, was in part, what bonded us.”

From Los Angeles Times

"We can't bring Meg back but what we can make sure is that her death isn't in vain," said Mrs Draper.

From BBC

Trier expresses it more bluntly: “She won’t,” he predicts, “become one of those vain actors who play it safe.”

From Los Angeles Times