VAIN

adj. 1 proud, conceited, haughty, arrogant, boastful, egotistical, cocky, self-important, vainglorious, narcissistic, Colloq big-headed, swell-headed, stuck-up, swollen-headed They are so vain that they have mirrors in every room 2 worthless, profitless, bootless, pointless, unsuccessful, empty, futile, useless, unavailing, unproductive, fruitless, ineffective, abortive Peter sent Carol flowers every day in a vain attempt to win her back 3 in vain. a vainly, futilely, unsuccessfully, fruitlessly, bootlessly In vain, we sought the help of the police b irreverently, blasphemously, disrespectfully, improperly Despite his mother's admonitions, he continues to take the Lord's name in vain