Vainly

Vainly describes an action or effort that is unsuccessful, pointless, or without any practical result. It signifies a sense of futility, where the outcome is destined to be ineffective, often due to poor planning, lack of skill, or insurmountable obstacles. It can also imply a sense of pride or excessive self-regard, where an individual is acting from ego rather than with practical intent. The term often highlights a waste of time, energy, and resources with no tangible or desired achievement.

Vainly meaning with examples

• The explorer searched for the lost city in the dense jungle, vainly hacking through the undergrowth for weeks. His efforts, despite being exhausting, yielded nothing, and he returned home defeated. He should have spent more time on research before beginning.
• She tried to reason with the angry crowd, vainly pleading for calm and understanding. The mob, fueled by rage, ignored her pleas and continued to riot. Her attempts to de-escalate the situation were rendered useless by the emotions.
• He wrote countless letters applying for the job, vainly hoping to secure an interview. Unfortunately, his resume was not a match for the position and he was never considered for the role. He should have tailor made his resume.
• The artist poured all of his creative energy into a single, complex painting, vainly pursuing perfection. He worked so hard that he was too mentally drained to finish it. His desire to make the ultimate painting was a fool's errand.