Antonyms for vain
| Grammar : Adj |
| Spell : veyn |
| Phonetic Transcription : veɪn |
Definition of vain
Origin :- c.1300, "devoid of real value, idle, unprofitable," from Old French vein "worthless," from Latin vanus "idle, empty," from PIE *wa-no-, from root *eue- "to leave, abandon, give out" (cf. Old English wanian "to lessen," wan "deficient;" Old Norse vanta "to lack;" Latin vacare "to be empty," vastus "empty, waste;" Avestan va- "lack," Persian vang "empty, poor;" Sanskrit una- "deficient"). Meaning "conceited" first recorded 1690s, from earlier sense of "silly, idle, foolish" (late 14c.). Phrase in vain "to no effect" (c.1300, after Latin in vanum) preserves the original sense. Related: Vainly.
- adj egotistical
- adj futile, useless
- Ambrose felt almost despairing as he heard in vain the last name.
- Extract from : « The Armourer's Prentices » by Charlotte M. Yonge
- But, bound as he was, we can understand why they looked in vain.
- Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
- Weary and restless with vain waiting, they looked from the doorway at the weather.
- Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
- You look in vain for any outward signs of profligacy or debauchery.
- Extract from : « Sunday under Three Heads » by Charles Dickens
- O the words of kindness, all to be expressed in vain, that flowed from her lips!
- Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
- To attempt to eliminate fear and retain this concept of God is vain.
- Extract from : « The Conquest of Fear » by Basil King
- Williams, Gunby, and Howard, all strove in vain to bring it to order.
- Extract from : « A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion » by William Dobein James
- Some men are as vain as any women, and Corney was one of those some.
- Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
- She strove her mightiest to rid herself of them, but in vain.
- Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
- And this poet was proud, and vain, and in love with all distinctions.
- Extract from : « The Man Shakespeare » by Frank Harris
Synonyms for vain
- abortive
- arrogant
- barren
- big-headed
- boastful
- bootless
- cocky
- conceited
- delusive
- delusory
- egocentric
- egoistic
- empty
- frivolous
- fruitless
- going nowhere
- haughty
- high-and-mighty
- hollow
- idle
- in vicious circle
- inefficacious
- inflated
- insignificant
- misleading
- narcissistic
- no-win
- not a prayer
- nugatory
- on a treadmill
- ostentatious
- otiose
- overweening
- paltry
- petty
- pleased with oneself
- pointless
- profitless
- proud
- puffed up
- puny
- self-important
- senseless
- shuck
- slight
- sterile
- stuck-up
- swaggering
- swollen-headed
- time-wasting
- trifling
- trivial
- unavailing
- unimportant
- unnotable
- unproductive
- unprofitable
- vainglorious
- valueless
- void
- worthless
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019