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1. Dictionary

   vain

   /veɪn/

   adjective

   • 1. having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth: "their flattery made him vain" Similar conceitednarcissisticself-lovingin love with oneselfself-admiringself-regardingwrapped up in oneselfself-absorbedself-obsessedself-centredegotisticegotisticalegoisticegocentricegomaniacproudhaughtyarrogantboastfulswaggeringimperiousoverweeningcockyaffectedliterary:vaingloriousrare:peacockishhave an excessively high opinion of oneselfthink too highly of oneselfthink a lot of oneselfinformal:think one is the cat's whiskers/pyjamasthink one is God's gift (to women)Opposite modest
   • 2. producing no result; useless: "a vain attempt to tidy up the room" Similar futileuselesspointlessworthlessnugatoryto no purposein vainineffectiveineffectualinefficaciousimpotentpowerlessunavailingto no availfruitlessprofitlessunproductiveunsuccessfulfailedwithout successabortivemisfiredthwartedbalkedfrustratedfoiledarchaic:bootlessOpposite successfulproductive
   • ▪ having no likelihood of fulfilment; empty: "a vain boast"

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘devoid of real worth’): via Old French from Latin vanus ‘empty, without substance’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. vainness noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • V

     4

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishVAIN | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   VAIN definition: 1. unsuccessful; of no value: 2. unsuccessfully: 3. too interested in your own appearance or…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › vainVain Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › vain

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   The meaning of VAIN is having or showing undue or excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements : conceited. How to use vain in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Vain.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryVAIN | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   VAIN meaning: 1. unsuccessful; of no value: 2. unsuccessfully: 3. too interested in your own appearance or…. Learn more.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › vainVAIN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › vain

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   Vain definition: excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited. See examples of VAIN used in a sentence.

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishvain adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Definition of vain adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishVAIN | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   VAIN definition: 1. without any success: 2. an attempt/effort, etc that does not have the result you want 3. too…. Learn more.

8. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishVAIN definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   A vain attempt or action is one that fails to achieve what was intended. The drafting committee worked through the night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule. I was singing in a vain effort to cheer him up. Synonyms: futile, useless, pointless, unsuccessful More Synonyms of vain.

9. www.merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › vainVAIN Synonyms: 210 Similar and Opposite Words - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › vain

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   Synonyms for VAIN: smug, proud, arrogant, vainglorious, egotistical, egoistical, conceited, selfish; Antonyms of VAIN: humble, modest, timid, diffident, egoless, meek, self-critical, unassertive.

10. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › vainVain - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

    www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › vain

    Vain is from Latin vanus, "empty," and in English it originally meant "lacking value or effect, futile," like your vain attempt to find a pencil in your messy, overstuffed backpack. Likewise, the phrase "in vain" means "without success." Vain also means "conceited, too proud of oneself."

11. www.oed.com › dictionary › vain_adjvain, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English...

    www.oed.com › dictionary › vain_adj

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    The earliest known use of the word vain is in the Middle English period (1150—1500). OED's earliest evidence for vain is from before 1300, in Cursor Mundi: a Northumbrian poem of the 14th century.