Vainly

In my dreams I found a little of the beauty I had vainly sought in life, and wandered through old gardens and enchanted woods.

Thrice round the neck with longing I essayed / to clasp the phantom in a wild delight; / thrice, vainly clasped, the visionary shade / mocked me embracing, and was lost to sight, / swift as a winged wind or slumber of the night.

Morocco is vainly trying to consolidate its dominance in Western Sahara.

She repeatedly tried to quit smoking, but vainly.

Malcolm's mother was the sister of the Earl of Northumberland. So the son of Duncan was half-English; and he became more than half-English when, somewhat later, he married Margaret, sister of his friend and guest, "Edgar the Atheling," last claimant of the Saxon throne, who had taken refuge with him while vainly plotting against William the Conqueror.

He vainly tried to convince them of his innocence.

Though my heart must henceforth enclose a red flame vainly striving to devour emptiness, still I must go back to that Paradise which will nevermore be Paradise to me.

I vainly cherished the dream of living an infinite love by your side.

She searched vainly for her reflection in the shattered mirror.

She stared vainly at her reflection in the mirror.