1
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
a man so vain that he spent hours admiring himself in the mirror
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in futile
producing no results
all their efforts to escape proved vain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in worthless
having no usefulness
having tired of the vain pleasures of life in the fast lane, he returned to the small town he had grown up in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vain
Arena, like the adjacent club called Circus, was established by a couple of gay and Latino entrepreneurs as open-to-everyone party spaces — a radical departure during an era when discos were defined more by the vulgar discrimination of velvet ropes and vain bouncers policing entry.
—
Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Trying in vain to predict where and when tariffs will hit is a losing game.
—Edmund Zagorin, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
While the issue was addressed before in vain, Macron hinted that it could be considered this time around.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 23 May 2025
Her very intimate use of the camera added by a relentless patience gives the film a meditational feeling that ultimately works beyond mere and vain life philosophy.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for vain
Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Trying in vain to predict where and when tariffs will hit is a losing game.
—Edmund Zagorin, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
While the issue was addressed before in vain, Macron hinted that it could be considered this time around.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 23 May 2025
Her very intimate use of the camera added by a relentless patience gives the film a meditational feeling that ultimately works beyond mere and vain life philosophy.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for vain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vain
Adjective
-
The smug and sanctimonious tenor of their briefing makes that plain.—
Christie D’Zurilla,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
-
In a comedic twist, the Labrador retriever was filmed turning back to his owner during the drive, with a smug look on his face as if to boast about his comfortable spot.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
The researchers said their findings should not suggest afforestation and carbon offsetting are futile.—
Hayley Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
-
And beneath that fear lies a corrosive belief that resistance is futile.—
Elisa Manfredini,
Time,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
Another’s insurer paid close to $1 million in a single year for worthless care.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
14 May 2025
-
And the further fragmentation of the media landscape doesn’t mean that prime time has suddenly turned into worthless real estate.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
But while Boyle is proud of his influence on the zombie film landscape, he’s mostly abstained from watching any of those movies himself.—
Jake Kleinman,
Wired News,
20 June 2025
-
By agreeing on the eventual package of £116m, Hughes and Rolfes were able to shake hands and both feel proud of the outcome.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Barca even took a legal case against the regulations to a Catalan court but were unsuccessful.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
-
The family's attempts to halt Oliva's deportation were unsuccessful.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
The notion Tehran was sprinting toward a nuclear bomb is an empty talking point.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
-
Twelve refill capsules are also included, as well as a prepaid shipping box to send the empty ones back.—
Matthew Korfhage,
Wired News,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
The protests proved conclusively that Americans will not tolerate the deployment of the U.S. military in American cities, the constant line-stepping over constitutional boundaries, the arrests of political dissenters, or the arrogant defense of police-state tactics.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
-
In Aesop’s fable, the turtle (traditionally called a tortoise, which is a type of turtle) is a winner, a perpetual underdog who defeats the arrogant hare.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
However, disciplined conduct on the part of the activists and the intervention of other bystanders renders the attacks useless.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
-
Pine needles mixed with all the other fine debris rendered the guards useless.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vain. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
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