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
As this idea has been discussed for years and no change has been made, there is a possibility Dugin's efforts will be in vain, and Lenin will remain in the mausoleum.
—
Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Ever since the government withdrew vast amounts of cash from circulation in 2016 in a vain effort to rein in underground commerce, Mr. Roy said, the economy has never recovered even its 8 percent pace.
—Alex Travelli, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Her brothers, Johnny, Aaron and Jesse Matthews, have suffered for seven years, trying in vain to pry answers from the authorities.
—Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 26 Jan. 2025
Everyone is skewered, from journalists and critics to agents and producers to, of course, vain movie stars, in this delightful, ultimately poignant parody.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for vain 
Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Ever since the government withdrew vast amounts of cash from circulation in 2016 in a vain effort to rein in underground commerce, Mr. Roy said, the economy has never recovered even its 8 percent pace.
—Alex Travelli, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Her brothers, Johnny, Aaron and Jesse Matthews, have suffered for seven years, trying in vain to pry answers from the authorities.
—Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 26 Jan. 2025
Everyone is skewered, from journalists and critics to agents and producers to, of course, vain movie stars, in this delightful, ultimately poignant parody.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for vain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vain
Adjective
-
Oliver then suddenly appeared with a smug look on his face.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Remember how, in that SNL book, Ferrell represented the hip future of comedy, mocking the smug boomer shtick of a Chevy Chase?—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Telling people to evacuate with no plan — or even an actual route — seems pretty futile.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Feb. 2025
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That disaster is remembered for the heroic action of federal worker Lenny Skutnik, a bystander who watched a helicopter’s futile effort to pull survivors from the river.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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He was convicted of financial card fraud in 1990, theft by check twice in 1990, two counts of issuing a worthless check in 1994, theft by check in 1994, four counts of theft by swindle in October 2002 and one count two months later.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
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Under Mike Ashley’s ownership, Newcastle were so rarely in the hat for cups that headwear of any sort was a worthless luxury.—
George Caulkin,
The Athletic,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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By drawing from his Mexican and Irish American roots, as well as his life as a proud gay man, Chavarria flaunts his progressive principles while creating new and novel experiences on the runway.—
Cat Cardenas,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2025
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Er, well, for the dozens of proud Vision Pro owners.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Walnut Grove Fire District personnel searched that first night from the air and aboard boats equipped with sonar and powerful magnets to detect the submerged vehicle but were unsuccessful.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacramento Bee,
6 Feb. 2025
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The Celtics held an 11-point lead five minutes into the third quarter when Brown elevated for an unsuccessful dunk attempt on Cleveland’s Georges Niang.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Shoppers have taken to social media to document the egg crisis, sharing photos and videos of empty shelves, limit notices and other shoppers mass purchasing eggs.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
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Sign on an empty supermarket shelf in Queens, New York.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Saxon, for instance, is filling the same spoiled, arrogant space as Jake Lacy’s Shane from Season One.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2025
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From director James Ashcroft (Coming Home in the Dark), who co-wrote the script with Eli Kent, The Rule of Jenny Pen centers on arrogant judge Stefan Mortensen (Rush), who has to live in a retirement home after a near-fatal stroke leaves him partially paralyzed.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Power losses also left area water pumps useless for hours during the 2017 Thomas fire.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2025
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The holding midfielder Antonio Blanco tried to step into Yamal but a quick flick of his left foot meant that Blanco’s tackle was useless.—
Pol Ballús,
The Athletic,
3 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Vain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vain. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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