Vain
/veɪn/adjective
Feeling too proud of your own appearance, abilities or achievements.
He is so vain about his hair.
Often appears as...
- in vain
- vain hope
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Without success or without producing any effect.
They made a vain attempt to save the man's life.
Often appears as...
- vain effort
- vain endeavor
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Having no real value or use.
His vanity and love for material possessions were his downfall.
Often appears as...
- vain ambition
- vain display
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Feeling too proud of your own appearance, abilities or achievements.
He is so vain about his hair.
Often appears as...
- in vain
- vain hope
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Without success or without producing any effect.
They made a vain attempt to save the man's life.
Often appears as...
- vain effort
- vain endeavor
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Having no real value or use.
His vanity and love for material possessions were his downfall.
Often appears as...
- vain ambition
- vain display
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
When calling somebody vain, it usually suggests disapproval of their excessive pride.
Despite his talent, his vain demeanor turned many people off.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Obvious
Someone may not openly show it, but can be vain in subtle ways, like through attitudes.
She was vain about her ancestry, often hinting at it in conversations.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Perceptions
Vanity is seen negatively in many cultures, but expressing confidence isn't always vanity.
He wasn't being vain; he genuinely knew he was the best candidate for the job.
Compare with
arrogantboastfulconceitegotisticallyhaughtynarcissisticostentatiousproud
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Video examples
Is the world getting...
It's good to be accurate. Of course we should be aware of suffering and danger wherever they occur, but we should also be aware of how they can be reduced, because there are dangers to indiscriminate pessimism. One of them is fatalism. If all our efforts at improving the world have been in vain,
Video examples
Rory Stewart: Time to...
wouldn't get the money to build their hospitals and schools. It's also very difficult to confront a general with medals on his chest. It's very difficult for a politician, because you're afraid that many lives have been lost in vain. You feel deep, deep guilt.
Video examples
Why should you read...
Tragically, the characters are locked in an existential they wait in vain for an unknown figure to give them a sense of purpose, but their only sense of purpose comes from the act of waiting, While they wait, they sink into boredom,
Video examples
Tan Le: My immigration...
He is my grandfather. I never knew him in real life. But our lives are much more than our memories. My grandmother never let me forget his life. My duty was not to allow it to have been in vain,
Video examples
Multiple Husbands PIPE...
important the wife has to understand everything the older brother's nature the younger brothers nature had Toto make you say what about jealousy that vain of even the most mundane marriage
Video examples
Mike O'Sullivan: The end...
and a common enemy, the pandemic, has not been met with a common response. So any hope that we might have a world vaccine or a world recovery program is in vain.
Video examples
A boat carrying 500...
can we make sure that they did not die in vain? Could we be inspired by what happened, and take a stand for a world in which every life matters? Thank you.
Video examples
Documenting what life is...
None of these would go in vain because people would experience, and hopefully be moved by, what I faced. For another project,
Video examples
Hornet Queen Murdered By...
but the dead Queens life has not been in vain from the ruins of the empire new lives
Video examples
Ferocious Hornet Moments...
but the dead queen's life has not been in vain
Video examples
Is the world getting...
It's good to be accurate. Of course we should be aware of suffering and danger wherever they occur, but we should also be aware of how they can be reduced, because there are dangers to indiscriminate pessimism. One of them is fatalism. If all our efforts at improving the world have been in vain,
Video examples
Rory Stewart: Time to...
wouldn't get the money to build their hospitals and schools. It's also very difficult to confront a general with medals on his chest. It's very difficult for a politician, because you're afraid that many lives have been lost in vain. You feel deep, deep guilt.
Video examples
Why should you read...
Tragically, the characters are locked in an existential they wait in vain for an unknown figure to give them a sense of purpose, but their only sense of purpose comes from the act of waiting, While they wait, they sink into boredom,
Video examples
Tan Le: My immigration...
He is my grandfather. I never knew him in real life. But our lives are much more than our memories. My grandmother never let me forget his life. My duty was not to allow it to have been in vain,
Video examples
Multiple Husbands PIPE...
important the wife has to understand everything the older brother's nature the younger brothers nature had Toto make you say what about jealousy that vain of even the most mundane marriage
Video examples
Mike O'Sullivan: The end...
and a common enemy, the pandemic, has not been met with a common response. So any hope that we might have a world vaccine or a world recovery program is in vain.
Video examples
A boat carrying 500...
can we make sure that they did not die in vain? Could we be inspired by what happened, and take a stand for a world in which every life matters? Thank you.
Video examples
Documenting what life is...
None of these would go in vain because people would experience, and hopefully be moved by, what I faced. For another project,
Video examples
Hornet Queen Murdered By...
but the dead Queens life has not been in vain from the ruins of the empire new lives
Video examples
Ferocious Hornet Moments...
but the dead queen's life has not been in vain
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jewel Staite
Canadian Actress
I've had to gain weight for roles and ugly myself up for roles. So yeah, I'm game. I'm game for that kind of thing. I'm certainly not too vain in that respect. If it's a great role, I'm willing to do whatever it is that it takes.
Quote examples
Evgeny Morozov
Belarusian Writer
As leakers take great risks in releasing information, assuring them that they are not sacrificing themselves in vain and that their leaks would have public consequences would most likely encourage more people to leak.
Quote examples
Friedrich Nietzsche
German Philosopher
On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow.
Quote examples
Lord Byron
British Poet
Roll on, deep and dark blue ocean, roll. Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain. Man marks the earth with ruin, but his control stops with the shore.
Quote examples
Muhammad Ali
American Boxer
I've made my share of mistakes along the way, but if I have changed even one life for the better, I haven't lived in vain.
Quote examples
Jack Gilbert
American Poet
I'm vain enough to think that I've made a successful life. I've had everything I've ever wanted. You can't beat that.
Quote examples
James M. Barrie
British Playwright
The praise that comes from love does not make us vain, but more humble.
Quote examples
Theodor W. Adorno
German Philosopher
But he who dies in despair has lived his whole life in vain.
Quote examples
Bodhidharma
Indian Leader
Life and death are important. Don't suffer them in vain.
Quote examples
Sibel Kekilli
German Actress
It's so rare, actors who are not vain.
Quote examples
Jewel Staite
Canadian Actress
I've had to gain weight for roles and ugly myself up for roles. So yeah, I'm game. I'm game for that kind of thing. I'm certainly not too vain in that respect. If it's a great role, I'm willing to do whatever it is that it takes.
Quote examples
Evgeny Morozov
Belarusian Writer
As leakers take great risks in releasing information, assuring them that they are not sacrificing themselves in vain and that their leaks would have public consequences would most likely encourage more people to leak.
Quote examples
Friedrich Nietzsche
German Philosopher
On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow.
Quote examples
Lord Byron
British Poet
Roll on, deep and dark blue ocean, roll. Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain. Man marks the earth with ruin, but his control stops with the shore.
Quote examples
Muhammad Ali
American Boxer
I've made my share of mistakes along the way, but if I have changed even one life for the better, I haven't lived in vain.
Quote examples
Jack Gilbert
American Poet
I'm vain enough to think that I've made a successful life. I've had everything I've ever wanted. You can't beat that.
Quote examples
James M. Barrie
British Playwright
The praise that comes from love does not make us vain, but more humble.
Quote examples
Theodor W. Adorno
German Philosopher
But he who dies in despair has lived his whole life in vain.
Quote examples
Bodhidharma
Indian Leader
Life and death are important. Don't suffer them in vain.
Quote examples
Sibel Kekilli
German Actress
It's so rare, actors who are not vain.
Example 1 of 10
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