vainly

[US]/ˈveɪnlɪ/
[UK]/'venli/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

adv. without success; without purpose; ineffectively

Example Sentences

He sought vainly for the answer.

The enemy vainly attempted destroying the bridge.

We tried vainly to discover what had happened.

The reactionary government tried vainly to take the steam out of the protest movement.

The team captain vainly tried to rally his troops.

She looked in the mirror vainly, trying to fix her hair.

He searched vainly for his lost keys.

The team tried vainly to catch up with their opponents.

She vainly attempted to impress her boss with her work.

The detective searched vainly for clues at the crime scene.

He shouted vainly for help as the boat drifted away.

The child vainly tried to reach the cookie jar on the top shelf.

She vainly hoped for a miracle to save her failing business.

Despite his efforts, he vainly attempted to convince her to change her mind.

The actor vainly tried to hide his disappointment at not getting the lead role.

Real-world Examples

" Oh! " said Mrs. Yeobright, vainly endeavouring to control her anger.

Source: Returning Home

My heart longs to join in thy song, but vainly struggles for a voice.

Source: Selected Poems of Tagore

Now they were battles, battles desperately, vainly fought as Johnston fell back toward Atlanta.

Source: Gone with the Wind

The crowd fell silent; only could be heard the voices of the gamblers vainly offering two to one.

Source: The Call of the Wild

He was sitting alone one evening pondering deeply over his troubles, and searching vainly for some way out of them.

Source: A Study in Scarlet by Sherlock Holmes

Julien vainly endeavoured to catch sight of the alluring woman.

Source: The Red and the Black (Part Three)

" Very agreeable indeed, " she replied, vainly endeavouring to hide a great yawn.

Source: Northanger Abbey (original version)

I struggled vainly against it, but she insisted frivolously and obstinately, and I surrendered.

Source: Kreutzer Sonata

The rundown rail services of America are something I try, vainly, to forget.

Source: Self-study Advanced English

My feverish hand has vainly attempted to describe upon paper its strange and wonderful details.

Source: The Journey to the Heart of the Earth

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