Definition

Vainglorious means having excessive pride and vanity in one’s own achievements or qualities.

Pronunciation

US English

UK English

Part of Speech

Adjective.

Synonyms

egotistical, proud, conceited, narcissistic, self-centered, self-important, pompous, boastful, arrogant, haughty.

Antonyms

Humble, modest, unassuming, self-effacing, unpretentious, shy, reserved, introverted, meek.

Word Forms

Part of Speech Words
Noun vainglories, vainglory
Verb None
Adjective vainglorious
Adverb None

Example Sentences

  • The vainglorious politician boasted about his achievements but failed to acknowledge the contribution of others.

  • The vainglorious actor demanded all the attention and constantly praised himself for his acting skills.

  • The CEO’s vainglorious attitude caused resentment among his employees and impeded his ability to lead effectively.

  • The athlete’s vainglorious behavior turned off many fans who admired his skills but found his arrogance intolerable.

Usage

Vainglorious is a word that is often used to describe people who are excessively proud and vain about their achievements or qualities. The word is formed from two roots, ‘vain’ which means excessively proud, and ‘glorious’ which means marked by great beauty. The suffix ‘-ous’ is added to the end of the word to indicate that it is an adjective that describes a quality or characteristic.

There are several variations of the word vainglorious that can be formed using different prefixes and suffixes. For example, the prefix ‘un-’ can be added to the word to create ‘unvainglorious’, which means not being excessively proud or vain. Alternatively, the prefix ‘over-’ can be added to produce ‘overvainglorious’, which means being excessively proud or vain to the point of being ridiculous or absurd.

Vainglorious is a word that is commonly used in literature, particularly in works of satire and critique. It is often used to describe characters who are arrogant and full of themselves, to the point of being unlikable. In addition, it is used to criticize people who are overly focused on their own self-importance, to the extent that they neglect the contributions of others.

Overall, the word vainglorious is a useful term that can be used to criticize people who are excessively proud or vain. While it does have negative connotations, it can be a useful way to describe someone who exhibits these qualities, particularly in the context of satire or critique. Its various prefixes and suffixes allow for a range of nuanced variations that can be used to describe different levels of pride and vanity.