(~er, ~est)
1.
A ~ attempt or action is one that fails to achieve what was intended.
The drafting committee worked through the night in a ~ attempt to finish on schedule...
= fruitless
ADJ: ADJ n
~ly
He hunted ~ly through his pockets for a piece of paper.
ADV: ADV with v
2.
If you describe a hope that something will happen as a ~ hope, you mean that there is no chance of it happening.
He married his fourth wife, Susan, in the ~ hope that she would improve his health.
ADJ: ADJ n
~ly
He then set out for Virginia for what he ~ly hoped would be a peaceful retirement.
ADV: ADV with v
3.
If you describe someone as ~, you are critical of their extreme pride in their own beauty, intelligence, or other good qualities.
I think he is shallow, ~ and untrustworthy.
ADJ disapproval
4.
If you do something in ~, you do not succeed in achieving what you intend.
He stopped at the door, waiting in ~ for her to acknowledge his presence...
PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR
5.
If you say that something such as someone’s death, suffering, or effort was in ~, you mean that it was useless because it did not achieve anything.
He wants the world to know his son did not die in ~.
PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR