excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited

a vain dandy.

proceeding from or showing personal vanity

vain remarks.

ineffectual or unsuccessful; futile

a vain effort.

without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless

vain pageantry; vain display.

Archaic . senseless or foolish. ?

in vain

without effect or avail; to no purpose

to apologize in vain.

in an improper or irreverent manner

to take God's name in vain.

adjective

modest , shy , possible

adjective

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 * , swaggering , swollen-headed , vainglorious , abortive , barren , bootless , delusive , delusory , empty , frivolous , fruitless , going nowhere , hollow , idle , inefficacious , insignificant , in vicious circle , misleading , not a prayer , no-win , nugatory , on a treadmill , otiose , paltry , petty , pointless , profitless , puny , senseless , shuck , slight , sterile , time-wasting , trifling , trivial , unavailing , unimportant , unnotable , unproductive , unprofitable , valueless , void , worthless , unsuccessful , useless , vacant , egoistical , egotistical , chimerical , cocky , deceitful , dogmatic , egotistic , flatulent , frustaneous , frustrate , futile , hopeless , hubristic , ineffective , ineffectual , officious , pedantic , pompous , pragmatic , pretentious , proud as a peacock , snooty , stuckup , unsatisfying , unsubstantial , visionary