VAIN Synonyms: 210 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

vain

adjective

ˈvān

Definition of vain

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in futile

producing no results all their efforts to escape proved vain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 The character is a vain celebrity author known for his theatrics and questionable character. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 While visiting Today on Wednesday morning, Harington gushed about being chosen to portray the vain and bumbling Hogwarts professor Gilderoy Lockhart on the second season of HBO’s Harry Potter adaptation. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Sep. 2026 The actor will play the vain Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Gilderoy Lockhart. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026 He a notoriously vain, boastful and fame-obsessed wizard well versed in Memory Charms who is recruited by Dumbledore as Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vain

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vain

Adjective

The locker real estate in the team’s second arena was something the proud parent didn’t even consider as part of his son’s Heat takeover.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Musk’s forthright, crusty dad Errol sounds almost proud that something was bullied out of his son, but the movie avoids filling out that traumatic childhood.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of proud

Adjective

Adelaide’s music had become an argument, however futile, with finality.

— Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
Before the court fight was launched, Edwin Benn, the arbitrator who oversaw 2023 contract negotiations between the city and FOP, warned the City Council that any attempt to undermine his award to the union would be futile.

— Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of futile

Adjective

Celebrated as masterpieces today, at the time they were regarded as the unpolished works of a depressed, crazy man and commercially worthless.

— Joan Martelli, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
But a few years back, collectors were paying up to tens of millions for now-worthless NFTs, so the value of anything in the art collectibles world is arguably whatever somebody is willing to pay.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of worthless

Adjective

As the unsuccessful regime-change effort in Iran demonstrated, there are no shortcuts to besting the axis countries, together or individually.

— Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026
Von Dohlen, a financial adviser and conservative activist who has run three unsuccessful campaigns for City Council, was unopposed in the Republican primary.

— Katie Bartlett, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of unsuccessful

Adjective

Here was my chance to get out of London, this counterfeit of death with its everywhere rage and its moribund culture and its smug population and its streets steeped in resentment and the sky pressing down like a chloroform rag.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Hilton vouches for their integrity, then quickly pivots into an attack on smug Democrats who take voters for granted.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of smug

Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of vain

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