Desperately
Desperately adverb - To a great degree.
Vainly and desperately are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Vainly" instead an adverb "Desperately".
Nearby Words: desperate, desperation
Vainly
Vainly adverb - To no avail.
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Synonyms for Vainly
Desperately and vainly are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Desperately" instead an adverb "Vainly".
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
- A noticeable play on this trope is the turian OC Krevan Opas, a Stepford Smiler who desperately strives to conform to turian standards, all the while vainly masking Unstoppable Rage.
Source: Roleplay / Fight for the Lost -
Corpsing: In one of the most memorable scenes of the film, Pilate speaks of his friend Biggus Dickus, as the guards desperately (and ultimately vainly) attempt to keep a straight face.
Cite this Source
Vainly and Desperately. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 01, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/desperately/vainly
Desperately & Vainly. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/desperately/vainly>.
Vainly or Desperately. 2016. Accessed August 01, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/desperately/vainly.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "desperately" and "vainly" have occurred on timeline