in vain

Without achieving what you wanted, despite trying.

• We waited in vain for a reply.
• She searched in vain for her missing ring.
• He tried in vain to open the locked door.

Similar words: unsuccessfully, fruitlessly

Opposites: successfully

Common phrases: try in vain, search in vain, wait in vain

Without proper respect, especially when using a religious name carelessly.

• They warned him against using God’s name in vain.
• She believes saying the Lord’s name in vain is wrong.
• The sermon discussed what it means to take God’s name in vain.

How to use it: take someone’s name in vain (He was accused of taking God’s name in vain.)

Similar words: irreverently, disrespectfully

Opposites: respectfully

Common phrases: take something in vain, in vain again

If an effort is like this, it does not achieve the result you wanted.

• Our efforts were in vain.
• All that work was in vain because the event was canceled.
• Was her long struggle really in vain?

Similar words: unsuccessful, useless, fruitless

Opposites: successful

Common phrases: be in vain, all in vain