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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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   Learn the meaning, usage, and history of the word vain, which can mean conceited, futile, or worthless. Find synonyms, antonyms, phrases, and related words for vain in the online dictionary.

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. 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.

8. 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."