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Vain vs Brag - What's the difference?

vain | brag |

As nouns the difference between vain and brag

is that vain is while brag is a boast or boasting; bragging; ostentatious pretence or self-glorification.

As a verb brag is

to boast; to talk with excessive pride about what one has, can do, or has done.

As an adjective brag is

first-rate.

As an adverb brag is

(obsolete) proudly; boastfully.

vain

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason.
  • * (rfdate) Leo Rosten
  • Every writer is a narcissist. This does not mean that he is vain ; it only means that he is hopelessly self-absorbed.
  • Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • thy vain excuse
  • * Bible, (w) v. 6
  • Let no man deceive you with vain words.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy.
  • Effecting no purpose; pointless, futile.
  • * (John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • Vain is the force of man / To crush the pillars which the pile sustain.
  • * (rfdate) William of Occam
  • It is vain to do with more what can be done with fewer.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
  • , chapter=6, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=But Sophia's mother was not the woman to brook defiance. After a few moments' vain remonstrance her husband complied. His manner and appearance were suggestive of a satiated sea-lion.}}
  • Showy; ostentatious.
  • * (Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)
  • Load some vain church with old theatric state.

    Synonyms

    * (overly proud of oneself) conceited; puffed up; inflated * (pointless) pointless, futile, fruitless, ineffectual * See also * See also

    Derived terms

    * in vain * vainness * vainly

    brag

    English

    Verb

  • To boast; to talk with excessive pride about what one has, can do, or has done.
  • to brag of one's exploits, courage, or money
  • * Shakespeare
  • Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, / Brags of his substance, not of ornament.
  • To boast of.
  • *Shakespeare
  • Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade

    Synonyms

    * boast

    Derived terms

    * braggart * bragging rights * humblebrag

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A boast or boasting; bragging; ostentatious pretence or self-glorification.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Caesar made not here his brag / Of "came", and "saw", and "overcame".
  • The thing which is boasted of.
  • * Milton
  • Beauty is Nature's brag .
  • (by ellipsis) The card game three card brag.
  • (Chesterfield)

    Adjective

    (bragger)
  • First-rate.
  • (archaic) Brisk; full of spirits; boasting; pretentious; conceited.
  • * Ben Jonson
  • a brag young fellow

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete) proudly; boastfully
  • (Fuller)

    References

    Anagrams

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