vainly

He watched neighbors come into his backyard and vainly battle the flames.

But Trump wants to be Trump, free from the discipline his aides have sought vainly to impose.

We caught up while I vainly attempted to control my heartbeat.

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

This is far from a conventionally heroic biopic, featuring a sullen protagonist vainly seeking more and more power, as if it might possibly satiate the gnawing void inside himself.