vain fruitless
1Vain — Vain, a. [Compar. {Vainer}; superl. {Vainest}.] [F. vain, L. vanus empty, void, vain. Cf. {Vanish}, {Vanity}, {Vaunt} to boast.] [1913 Webster] 1. Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying. Thy vain… …
2Fruitless — Fruit less, a. 1. Lacking, or not bearing, fruit; barren; destitute of offspring; as, a fruitless tree or shrub; a fruitless marriage. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Productive of no advantage or good effect; vain; idle; useless; unprofitable; as, a… …
3vain — 1 Vain, nugatory, otiose, idle, empty, hollow are comparable when they mean devoid of worth or significance. Something vain (see also FUTILE) is devoid of all value, either absolutely because worthless, superfluous, or unprofitable or relatively… …
4vain — [vān] adj. [OFr < L vanus, empty, vain: see WANT] 1. having no real value or significance; worthless, empty, idle, hollow, etc. [vain pomp] 2. without force or effect; futile, fruitless, unprofitable, unavailing, etc. [a vain endeavor] 3.… …
5fruitless — *futile, vain, bootless, abortive Analogous words: unfruitful, barren, infertile, *sterile: *vain, idle, otiose, nugatory, empty, hollow: frustrated, thwarted, foiled (see FRUSTRATE) Antonyms: fruitful Contrasted words: *effective, effectual, e …
6fruitless — [adj] bringing no advantage, product abortive, barren, empty, futile, gainless, idle, ineffective, ineffectual, infertile, in vain, pointless, profitless, spinning one’s wheels*, sterile, to no avail*, to no effect*, unavailable, unavailing,… …
7vain — [adj1] egotistical arrogant, big headed*, boastful, cocky*, conceited, egocentric, egoistic, haughty, high and mighty*, inflated, narcissistic, ostentatious, overweening, pleased with oneself*, proud, puffed up*, self important, stuck up*,… …
8fruitless — [fro͞ot′lis] adj. [ME fruitles] 1. without results; unprofitable; unsuccessful; vain 2. bearing no fruit; sterile; barren SYN. FUTILE fruitlessly adv. fruitlessness n …
9vain — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) adj. proud, conceited; futile, fruitless; trivial. See vanity, uselessness, unimportance. II (Roget s IV) modif. 1. [Possessing unwarranted self esteem] Syn. proud, arrogant, haughty; see egotistic 2 . 2 …
10vain — [[t]ve͟ɪn[/t]] vainer, vainest 1) ADJ: ADJ n 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… …
