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
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
Those who make the strategic mistake of chasing visibility and vain metrics inevitably vanish like mist in a mountain breeze.
—Phillimon Zongo, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
Suddenly Susan aired for four seasons from 1996 to 2000 and featured Shields as a working woman adjusting to single life after leaving her vain, wealthy fiancé at the altar.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Instead he might have been remembered as another god or angel among many, who came down for a while to heal some bodies, heal some souls, who tried in vain to teach us how to get back to the radix of our lives, then left again.
—Lamorna Ash, The Dial, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for vain
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Those who make the strategic mistake of chasing visibility and vain metrics inevitably vanish like mist in a mountain breeze.
—Phillimon Zongo, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
Suddenly Susan aired for four seasons from 1996 to 2000 and featured Shields as a working woman adjusting to single life after leaving her vain, wealthy fiancé at the altar.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Instead he might have been remembered as another god or angel among many, who came down for a while to heal some bodies, heal some souls, who tried in vain to teach us how to get back to the radix of our lives, then left again.
—Lamorna Ash, The Dial, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for vain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vain
Adjective
-
Twenty-three years of a smug, smarmy host, and a bunch of sportswriters desperate for sound bites and attention.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
-
There’s the divorced couple maintaining their relationship for their children; the happy and occasionally smug monogamist; the man who prefers not to commit; the woman who can’t decide.—
Alissa Wilkinson,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
The fight against short-term rentals, after all, can be futile.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
6 June 2025
-
But without Congress actually enacting the DOGE cuts into law, history will show this entire exercise to have been largely futile.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Even as Amtrak officials were sitting with Hochul yesterday and offering her more worthless promises, the Amtrak Board of Directors was holding a rare public session.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
23 May 2025
-
At the same time, a blanket rule against nationwide injunctions would render many court orders worthless.—
Ian Millhiser,
Vox,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
For a bit of old soul Florida, head to Everglades City, a proud frontier town in subtropical swamp wilderness.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
-
Their many successes and proud history are well known, so there are plenty of arguments to support Madrid in this competition… and also to want anyone but them to win it.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
Efforts to reach Suncor officials for this story were unsuccessful.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
7 June 2025
-
One game after the Oilers were unsuccessful in challenging that Bennett interfered with Stuart Skinner during the game’s first goal, Bennett toppled over Skinner after getting contact from Ekholm later in the period.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
American retailers cried foul and indicated Santa Claus’s sled would be empty.—
Bruce Yandle,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2025
-
Those who depend on the river are already dealing with uncertainty: this season’s mountain snowpack is expected to deliver about half the median amount of water to the system’s two major reservoirs, which are already two-thirds empty.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
There is something dangerously, provocatively arrogant about his glorified gang leader looks.—
Timothy Crouse,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2025
-
The exiled poet was criticized for his arrogant attempts to influence British and American foreign policy.—
Graham Robb,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
The bad job, the relaxing sabbatical, the useless degree.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
-
Through a charmingly off-kilter blend of 2D aesthetics, the film follows a protagonist who, after catching a highly contagious virus, must abandon her work as a personal assistant to a demanding boss and her duties at home with a useless husband and two needy kids.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vain. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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