vain

adjective

ˈvān How to pronounce vain (audio)
Definition of vainnext
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

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 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 Or any thing but that vain Animal Who boasts so much of being Rational. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for vain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vain
  1. smug
  2. futile
  3. worthless
  4. proud
  5. unsuccessful
  6. empty
  7. arrogant
  8. useless
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
  • Stuart Bloom’s futile efforts to right the space-time continuum will continue.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The central legal debate in the last stretch leading up to Mangione’s trial has revolved around who will get to participate in this perhaps futile—though understandable—interpretive exercise.
    — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of futile
Adjective
  • In League Two, tweaks to SCMP were largely thrown out because they were seen as worthless.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 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
  • This Queens bakery comes from two restaurant-industry veterans and proud Filipinos Kimberly Camara and Kevin Borja, who started a pop-up back in 2020 and quickly developed a cult following that demanded a brick-and-mortar.
    — Kyle Beechey, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Salesforce is proud to be an early investor, customer, and partner.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of proud
Adjective
  • It could not be immediately determined if Harris has an attorney who could speak on his behalf, and efforts to reach his family by phone were unsuccessful.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Trump met with Kim three times for denuclearization talks during his first term in office that were ultimately unsuccessful.
    — Aileen Graef, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsuccessful
Adjective
  • After coming up empty all night, the Angels finally broke the scoreless tie in the eighth.
    — Kyle Glaser, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The luxury pods — complete with lie-flat beds and sliding privacy doors — could be entirely off-limits when departure day rolls around, sitting completely empty at 35,000 feet.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of empty
Adjective
  • As such, there is a tendency among such countries to view Europeans as arrogant and self-serving, perhaps even neo-colonialist, with a desire to at least maintain, or maybe even strengthen, their position of power.
    — Simon Chadwick, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • James, Lord Dalhousie, the arrogant and ruthless Governor General of British India, who had long coveted the riches of Punjab and the Koh-i-Noor, was triumphant.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • Even the useless adults of The Shards would surely act quickly to arrest Robert with this much evidence.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Talarico calls Big Bend border wall 'useless' Democratic candidate James Talarico reacted to images of bulldozers at Big Bend in an X post.
    — Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of useless

Phrases Containing vain

Browse Nearby Words

vagueness
vain
vainglorious
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Cite this Entry

“Vain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vain. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vain

Nglish: Translation of vain for Spanish Speakers

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