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Vain vs Cruel - What's the difference?

vain | cruel |

As adjectives the difference between vain and cruel

is that vain is overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason while cruel is not nice; mean; heartless.

As a verb cruel is

to spoil or ruin (one's chance of success.

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

    cruel

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Not nice; mean; heartless.
  • The supervisor was very cruel to Josh, as he would always give Josh the hardest, most degrading work he could find.
  • (slang) Cool; awesome; neat.
  • Synonyms

    * brutal * sadistic * vicious

    Antonyms

    * merciful

    Derived terms

    * cruelly

    Verb

  • To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)
  • Anagrams

    * * ----