vain

adjective

ˈvān How to pronounce vain (audio)
Definition of vainnext
1
as in proud
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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word vain distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of vain are empty, hollow, idle, nugatory, and otiose. While all these words mean "being without worth or significance," vain implies either absolute or relative absence of value.

vain promises

How are the words empty and hollow related as synonyms of vain?

Both empty and hollow suggest a deceiving lack of real substance or soundness or genuineness.

an empty attempt at reconciliation
a hollow victory

When is it sensible to use idle instead of vain?

The synonyms idle and vain are sometimes interchangeable, but idle suggests being incapable of worthwhile use or effect.

idle speculations

When would nugatory be a good substitute for vain?

In some situations, the words nugatory and vain are roughly equivalent. However, nugatory suggests triviality or insignificance.

a monarch with nugatory powers

In what contexts can otiose take the place of vain?

The words otiose and vain can be used in similar contexts, but otiose suggests that something serves no purpose and is either an encumbrance or a superfluity.

a film without a single otiose scene

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vain Paul Breitner, West Germany vs Italy, 1982 All in vain, but Breitner restores some German pride with a tidy, low volley on the turn after Italy fail to clear a corner. — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026 And so vain and superstitious were the KGB’s analysis of Ronald Reagan. — Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026 For now, facelifts before retirement age remain a niche habit of the unusually wealthy and vain. — Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026 Some observers—especially on the left—dismiss the recent rush of commentary as vaguely racist media hype, or as the latest chapter in society’s vain effort to quell the permanent volcano of adolescence. — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for vain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vain
  1. proud
  2. futile
  3. worthless
  4. arrogant
  5. unsuccessful
  6. empty
  7. smug
  8. useless
Adjective
  • Turns out America’s enthusiasm for itself has gone into a bit of a rut—more than 80% of Americans felt proud in 2010, but only 53% feel that way today.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The New York Film Festival is proud to welcome back Cinephile for our fifth year of NYFF Trivia Night events during the festival at the EBM Amphitheater!
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of proud
Adjective
  • In sick bay, M’Benga tries to remove the table and end his life so Chapel can give up on him, an effort that proves futile.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Its storyline spins the futile, determined chase of Wile to one day capture Roadrunner as something admirable, and applies that underdog mentality to the average person trying to navigate a late capitalist landscape that values profits over people.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of futile
Adjective
  • The referee’s visual countdown may prove worthless if the player trotting off has his back to the official, which will invariably be the case.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • And since Jace’s death, she’s treated Baela as nothing more than a defective surveillance drone — a worthless piece of tech that never spots Vhagar.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of worthless
Adjective
  • Each of these decisions laid the groundwork for the war on Iran today, one that started without a clear strategy on the arrogant expectation of a quick victory.
    — Alexander Langlois, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The data center industry is only one face of an arrogant oligarchy that people believe now runs Congress, the courts, the White House, state legislatures and local governments.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • That ability to learn may ultimately separate successful defenders from unsuccessful ones.
    — Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The five unsuccessful trials shared a condition of the test rig rather than indicating a failure of the recovery logic.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsuccessful
Adjective
  • In the middle of a near-empty parking lot sat an old Chevy pickup truck, rust around the quarter-panels.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026
  • After a brief stay in a very creepy hospital (unsettlingly empty) Hal and John reunite.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of empty
Adjective
  • Historian Sandgruber describes how Alois Hitler wrote his 1895 letters in a deeply smug, anti-clerical manner that overestimated his abilities.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
  • Li at times plays Cola with a smug impetuousness that belies her naivety about this world to a satisfying degree.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 17 June 2026
Definition of smug
Adjective
  • Leading models aren’t completely useless at handling Cantonese.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Built-ins designed for Pinterest, not your daily routine, will quickly look dated and feel useless.
    — Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of useless

Phrases Containing vain

Browse Nearby Words

vagueness
vain
vainglorious
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vain. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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