strive in vain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strive in vain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing effort that ultimately leads to no success or result. Example: "Despite their best efforts to resolve the issue, they found themselves striving in vain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Speakers strive in vain to rouse the masses some drunk, many seemingly paid to attend.

The Economist

"Down to the Bone," which won a Special Jury Prize at last year's Sundance Festival, is the kind of movie most independent films strive in vain to be: a small, beautifully faceted gem.

The New York Times

I would say that the child's involvement has a credulous freshness that the adult, for all the critical tools at his or her disposal, will strive in vain to recapture, but McCarthy is right to point up the simplicity of Hergé's achievement.

The New Yorker

(Scott) * 'DOWN TO THE BONo' (No rating, 105 minutes) "Down to the Bone," which won the special jury prize at last year's Sundance Festival, is the kind of movie most independent films strive in vain to be: a small, beautifully faceted gem.

The New York Times

Whether it can be traced back to his training - not at drama school, since he never went there, but perhaps to his early days in rep, or with the Bristol Old Vic and the Royal Shakespeare company in its 1960s heyday - Peter Jeffrey, who has died at the age of 70, brought to his acting the ring of truth for which so many actors strive in vain.

The Guardian

Falcao continued to strive in vain for that elusive goal, first being denied by Steven Caulker's slight touch and then just failing to connect with another Wilson cross.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

But she strived in vain.

Yale University

Countless bloggers write about striving — in vain, most discover — to eradicate plastic from their lives.

The New York Times

For the remainder of his political life, and especially between 1906 and 1914, Plekhanov strove in vain to reunite the party.

Encyclopedia Britannica

After striving in vain for so long for a win over their neighbours, Warrington can now claim to be the logical favourites when they meet.

Independent

Into the fifth overtime period, in a sudden-death situation in which the next goal would clinch the victory, players strived in vain to muster a winning shot.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "strive in vain" when you want to emphasize the futility of an action, despite considerable effort. It adds a sense of resignation or irony to the statement.

Common error

While "strive in vain" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly dramatic or archaic in some modern contexts. Consider more direct alternatives like "attempted unsuccessfully" or "tried without success" for clearer communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strive in vain" functions as a verbal phrase, specifically a verb ("strive") followed by an adverbial phrase ("in vain"). It indicates an action performed with effort but ultimately without success, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strive in vain" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe effort that yields no positive result. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While understandable across different registers, it appears most frequently in news, academic, and encyclopedia contexts. Alternative phrasing exists, but "strive in vain" offers a distinct emphasis on futility. When writing, consider your audience and context to decide if the phrase's somewhat dramatic tone is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempt unsuccessfully

Focuses on the lack of success in an attempt.

try without success

Emphasizes the absence of a positive outcome despite trying.

endeavor fruitlessly

Highlights the unproductive nature of the effort.

struggle ineffectually

Underscores the lack of impact or effectiveness in a struggle.

labor unprofitably

Focuses on the lack of gain or benefit from the labor.

toil to no avail

Emphasizes the lack of positive results despite hard work.

exert oneself without result

Highlights the absence of any tangible outcome despite considerable effort.

make a futile attempt

Focuses on the inherent hopelessness or pointlessness of the attempt.

pursue without reward

Emphasizes that pursuing some objectives is not rewarding.

persist without prevailing

Highlights that persistency might not guarantee success.

FAQs

How can I use "strive in vain" in a sentence?

You can use "strive in vain" to describe an action or effort that ultimately fails to achieve its intended purpose, for example: "Despite their best efforts, they "strove in vain" to save the project".

What's a more straightforward way to express the meaning of "strive in vain"?

Alternatives include phrases like "attempt unsuccessfully", "try without success", or "endeavor fruitlessly", which convey the same sense of futility with potentially less dramatic or archaic tone.

Is "strive in vain" suitable for all types of writing?

While grammatically correct, "strive in vain" might sound overly formal or literary in some contexts. Consider the tone and audience of your writing when deciding whether to use this phrase, and opt for simpler alternatives if appropriate.

What is the difference between "struggle in vain" and "strive in vain"?

"Strive in vain" suggests an earnest and persistent effort that ultimately proves fruitless. "Struggle in vain" implies a more intense or desperate effort against significant opposition, also ending without success.