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vain
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- pronunciation:
- veIn
- phrases:
- in vain
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective), Homophone Note
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
not leading to a desirable or lasting effect; futile; fruitless.
Utterly confused, she made a vain attempt to answer the question.The campers made a vain effort to contain the fire and finally called the local fire department.- synonyms:
- abortive, bootless, fruitless, futile, ineffectual, inefficacious, unavailing, unsuccessful, useless
- antonyms:
- fruitful, successful
- similar words:
- hopeless, idle, ineffective, nugatory, pointless, unproductive
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| definition 2: |
excessively admiring of oneself, esp. of one's appearance; conceited.
He was a pampered child who grew up to be vain and proud.She's a vain woman who spends half her time in front of the mirror.- synonyms:
- conceited, narcissistic, stuck-up, vainglorious
- antonyms:
- modest
- similar words:
- arrogant, egotistical, proud, self-centered
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| definition 3: |
showing or resulting from excessive preoccupation with one's appearance.
She flashed a vain smile at the camera.- synonyms:
- self-satisfied, vainglorious
- similar words:
- arrogant, dandyish, proud
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| definition 4: |
lacking significance or value; trivial.
There is nothing but vain chatter at these parties.- synonyms:
- futile, insignificant, nugatory, trivial
- similar words:
- frivolous, good-for-nothing, idle, silly, slight, trifling, valueless, worthless
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| related words: |
abortive, cavalier, complacent, empty, hollow, meaningless, pompous, pretentious, self-satisfied, useless, void |
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| phrase: |
in vain |
| derivations: |
vainly (adv.), vainness (n.) |
The words vain, vane, and vein sound alike but have different meanings.
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