as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
the vainglory that nations have historically shown after they have achieved military supremacy
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Recent Examples of vainglory
The conceit is saved from vainglory by the gravity Cage brings to the performance.
—
Isaac Butler, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2023
That’s the mantra for wide receivers, a group long known for their vainglory.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2023
Cuevas excels at spotlighting vainglory, and there’s plenty to go around here.
—Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2023
More likely, the 70-year-old former cricketer’s vainglory and taste for brinkmanship could tip an already turbulent nation into chaos.
—Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 10 Nov. 2022
The best reason to pursue anarchism, to walk that line between chaos and the man, is that none of us is free from greed or vainglory.
—Alan Jacobs, Harper’s Magazine , 9 Nov. 2022
For all his vainglory, Mitchell was onto something in betting on a race as an aeronautical showcase.
—Michael O’Donnell, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2022
Behind closed doors, people are nervously voicing that the annual grandstanding on stage has shifted too much towards vainglory, rather than progress against staggering challenges.
—Charles Beames, Forbes, 31 Aug. 2021
Vidal gives wicked, witty renditions of the infighting, backstabbing and vainglory of such troublesome men as Gen. George B. McClellan, Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase and John Wilkes Booth.
—Katherine A. Powers, Star Tribune, 6 Nov. 2020
Isaac Butler, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2023
That’s the mantra for wide receivers, a group long known for their vainglory.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2023
Cuevas excels at spotlighting vainglory, and there’s plenty to go around here.
—Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2023
More likely, the 70-year-old former cricketer’s vainglory and taste for brinkmanship could tip an already turbulent nation into chaos.
—Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 10 Nov. 2022
The best reason to pursue anarchism, to walk that line between chaos and the man, is that none of us is free from greed or vainglory.
—Alan Jacobs, Harper’s Magazine , 9 Nov. 2022
For all his vainglory, Mitchell was onto something in betting on a race as an aeronautical showcase.
—Michael O’Donnell, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2022
Behind closed doors, people are nervously voicing that the annual grandstanding on stage has shifted too much towards vainglory, rather than progress against staggering challenges.
—Charles Beames, Forbes, 31 Aug. 2021
Vidal gives wicked, witty renditions of the infighting, backstabbing and vainglory of such troublesome men as Gen. George B. McClellan, Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase and John Wilkes Booth.
—Katherine A. Powers, Star Tribune, 6 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vainglory
Noun
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Soapstone tops the bespoke vanity with hardware from Rejuvenation.—
Elizabeth Fazzare,
Architectural Digest,
17 Feb. 2025
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Daniel Petroni Photography The primary suite bathroom features twin vanities, side-by-side showers encased in a glass cube and a black bathtub under a crystal chandelier at its center.—
Ray Parisi,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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After surviving the Holocaust, a Hungarian Jewish architect (Adrien Brody) comes to the USA to build a life for his family while weathering his own considerable ego and vices.—
Brian Truitt,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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Our unconscious ego thinks fast and moves fast, which creates over-control, lack of trust and analysis paralysis.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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But there is certainly a sense of pride attached to his defense.—
Shane Young,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Women of the Year Merch 2025 Celebrate Women's History month with pride and style.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Payton approached the quarterback vacancy with arrogance.—
Troy Renck,
The Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2025
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How narcissism and exclusion fuel one another Narcissists often display disruptive behaviors in social settings, such as aggression or arrogance, that increase the likelihood of others distancing themselves over time.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vainglory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vainglory. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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