ed, occupied, replete.

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VAIN.

Synonyms:

abortive, futile, shadowy, unsatisfying,
baseless, idle, trifling, unserviceable,
bootless, inconstant, trivial, unsubstantial,
deceitful, ineffectual, unavailing, useless,
delusive, nugatory, unimportant, vapid,
empty, null, unprofitable, visionary,
fruitless, profitless, unreal, worthless.

_Vain_ (L. _vanus_, empty) keeps the etymological idea through all
changes of meaning; a _vain_ endeavor is _empty_ of result, or of
adequate power to produce a result, a _vain_ pretension is _empty_ or
destitute of support, a _vain_ person has a conceit that is _empty_ or
destitute of adequate cause or reason. That which is _bootless_,
_fruitless_, or _profitless_ fails to accomplish any valuable result;
that which is _abortive_, _ineffectual_, or _unavailing_ fails to
accomplish a result that it was, or was supposed to be, adapted to
accomplish. That which is _useless_, _futile_, or _vain_ is inherently
incapable of accomplishing a specified result. _Useless_, in the widest
sense, signifies not of use for any valuable purpose, and is thus
closely similar to _valueless_ and _worthless_. _Fruitless_ is more
final than _ineffectual_, as applying to the sum or harvest of endeavor.
That which is _useless_ lacks actual fitness for a purpose; that which
is _vain_ lacks imaginable fitness. Compare VACANT; OSTENTATION; PRIDE.

Antonyms:

adequate, effective, powerful, solid, useful,
advantageous, efficient, profitable, sound, valid,
beneficial, expedient, real, substantial, valuable,
competent, potent, serviceable, sufficient, worthy.

Compare synonyms for UTILITY.

* * * * *

VENAL.

Synonyms:

hireling, mercenary, purchasable, salable.

_Venal_ (L. _venalis_, from _venum_, sale) signifies ready to sell one's
influence, vote, or efforts for money or other consideration;
_mercenary_ (L. _mercenarius_, from _merces_, pay, reward) signifies
influenced chiefly or only by desire for gain or reward; thus,
etymologically, the _mercenary_ can be hired, while the _venal_ are
openly or actually for sale; _hireling_ (AS. _hyrling_, from _hyr_)
signifies serving for hire or pay, or having the spirit or character of
one who works or of that which is done directly for hi