2
: marked by futility or ineffectualness : unsuccessful, useless
vain efforts to escape
vainly
adverb
Phrases
in vain
1
: to no end : without success or result
her efforts were in vain
2
: in an irreverent or blasphemous manner
Being a religion writer, I have always tried to avoid using the Lord's name in vain. I have not always succeeded.—
Don Lattin
see also take in vain
Don LattinSynonyms
Examples of vain in a Sentence
For a half a century, scholars have searched in vain for the source of the jade that the early civilizations of the Americas prized above all else and fashioned into precious objects of worship, trade and adornment.
—William J. Broad, New York Times, 22 May 2002
… the miseries of people's lives ought not to be exploited ad libitum in the furtherance of our profits or our careers, and in the vain conviction that we understand everything.
—Richard Taruskin, New Republic, 24 Dec. 2001
It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.
—Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847
Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813
Where words are scarce, they are seldom spent in vain …
—William Shakespeare, King Richard the Second, 1596
She is very vain about her appearance.
He is the vainest man I know.
A vain effort to quell the public's fears only made matters worse.
Volunteers searched the area in the vain hope of finding clues.
William J. Broad, New York Times, 22 May 2002
… the miseries of people's lives ought not to be exploited ad libitum in the furtherance of our profits or our careers, and in the vain conviction that we understand everything.
—Richard Taruskin, New Republic, 24 Dec. 2001
It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.
—Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847
Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813
Where words are scarce, they are seldom spent in vain …
—William Shakespeare, King Richard the Second, 1596
She is very vain about her appearance.
He is the vainest man I know.
A vain effort to quell the public's fears only made matters worse.
Volunteers searched the area in the vain hope of finding clues.
Recent Examples on the Web
But when a shocking discovery reveals that humanity already reached the surface generations ago, the Reds realize their work has been in vain.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024
In vain, the security establishment has implored the Netanyahu government to release tax revenues to the PA and resume issuing work permits for West Bank Palestinians employed inside Israel.
—Mairav Zonszein, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2024
His sacrifice appeared to not be in vain: His heart was transplanted into Superman's body and the episode ended with Superman opening his eyes and gasping.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 15 Oct. 2024
But those waiting to see Arthur develop into the insane Joker of lore will do so in vain.
—Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for vain 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
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Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024
In vain, the security establishment has implored the Netanyahu government to release tax revenues to the PA and resume issuing work permits for West Bank Palestinians employed inside Israel.
—Mairav Zonszein, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2024
His sacrifice appeared to not be in vain: His heart was transplanted into Superman's body and the episode ended with Superman opening his eyes and gasping.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 15 Oct. 2024
But those waiting to see Arthur develop into the insane Joker of lore will do so in vain.
—Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for vain
Articles Related to vain
Dictionary Entries Near vain
Cite this Entry
“Vain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vain. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
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