sheer vanity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sheer vanity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or behaviors that are motivated purely by self-importance or excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements. Example: "Her decision to enter the competition was driven by sheer vanity, as she wanted to be the center of attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

If a woman rival uses a six iron for a shot, Babe will likely as not use an eight out of sheer vanity.

The Guardian - Sport

This architecture is useful only for illustrating the sheer vanity of building anything on a site that always was, and is now more than ever, charged with aggressive and eruptive power.

The New York Times - Arts

"Some are bad fits, others out of sheer vanity," says Bourdain.

Forbes

Seeing my mother-in-law go through something so devastating for sheer vanity, also had its influence on me.

Huffington Post

Debates about the Oscars, which only go to a small fraction of industry professionals each year, can seem like sheer vanity.

Huffington Post

We've all seen one famous face after another tumble down the rabbit hole of peer pressure, cultural expectations, show business demands, sheer vanity, fear of death, revulsion of aging and the simple miscalculation -- pummeled and propagated by the media and culture -- that the only beauty is youthful beauty.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Technological advances, as well as the sheer unadulterated vanity of social media, means that usage of the word "selfie" has increased by 17,000% over the past year.

The Guardian - Tech

Vanity! Vanity!

Huffington Post

It has inspired me to check myself and ask: Am I doing what I do and living my life out of laziness, vanity, or sheer habit or out of love?

Vice

Liaut does not attempt to soften his subject's petulance and vanity, but for sheer ghastliness, there is nothing to match the moment in the Rocksavage documentary when Castaing is asked about World War II: "It didn't matter very much for us.

The New York Times - Style

And given how hard it is to navigate women's clothing choices to pick something that's attractive but not too sexy but still friendly but professional enough but not too expensive or I'll get bashed for vanity, and the sheer waste of time this takes up for me, if I had a choice I'd make like Cortana too.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sheer vanity" to emphasize that an action or decision is motivated purely by excessive pride, without any other significant contributing factors. For instance, "The project's failure was due to the leader's sheer vanity, as he refused to listen to advice from experienced team members."

Common error

Avoid attributing complex situations to "sheer vanity" as the sole cause. While pride might be a factor, look for other contributing elements like insecurity, lack of information, or external pressures to provide a balanced and insightful analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sheer vanity" functions as a noun phrase, where "sheer" is an adjective intensifying the noun "vanity". Ludwig confirms its usability in written English and its suitability for describing motivations rooted in self-importance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sheer vanity" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase to describe actions or decisions motivated by excessive pride. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples from reputable sources such as The Guardian and The New York Times. While not extremely common, the phrase effectively conveys the intensity of self-importance driving particular behaviors. Be mindful when using it as the sole explanation for complex situations; consider other factors for a comprehensive analysis. Related phrases like "pure arrogance" and "utter self-importance" offer nuanced alternatives. This phrase is best suited to neutral or journalistic writing and should be deployed thoughtfully to precisely depict the motivation behind certain actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sheer egotism

Synonymous with pure egotism, emphasizes the 'sheer' or unadulterated nature.

extreme pride

Directly describes the excessive level of pride involved.

pure arrogance

Emphasizes the overt and aggressive nature of the pride.

utter self-importance

Highlights the exaggerated sense of one's significance.

complete egotism

Focuses on the self-centered nature of the behavior.

unadulterated narcissism

Stresses the self-admiration and inflated self-image.

absolute conceit

Highlights the exaggerated belief in one's abilities or worth.

unmitigated self-regard

Focuses on the lack of moderation in one's positive view of themselves.

outright vainglory

Suggests boastful and unwarranted pride.

simple vanity

Underscores the plain and unadorned form of vanity.

FAQs

How can I use "sheer vanity" in a sentence?

You can use "sheer vanity" to describe actions or decisions motivated primarily by excessive pride. For example, "His decision to fund the extravagant project was driven by "sheer vanity", as he wanted to be seen as a visionary."

What are some alternatives to "sheer vanity"?

Alternatives include "pure arrogance", "utter self-importance", or "complete egotism", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "sheer vanity" a formal or informal expression?

"Sheer vanity" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it is often found in journalistic and literary writing. It is more descriptive than judgmental.

What is the difference between "sheer vanity" and "simple vanity"?

"Sheer vanity" emphasizes the intensity or unadulterated nature of the vanity. In contrast, "simple vanity" refers to a basic or unpretentious form of vanity.