insignificance
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insignificance
The state of having no, or only very little, importance, standing, or relevance. It describes the quality of being insignificant or irrelevant.
Angesichts der unendlichen Weite des Universums spürte er die Bedeutungslosigkeit seiner eigenen Probleme.
In view of the infinite vastness of the universe, he felt the insignificance of his own problems.
The word has a clear structure: it comes from the adjective 'bedeutungslos' (insignificant), which consists of 'Bedeutung' (meaning/importance) and the ending '-los' (without). The ending '-igkeit' turns it into a noun that describes a state.
Das Adjektiv lautet „bedeutungslos“, das Nomen „die Bedeutungslosigkeit“.
The adjective is 'bedeutungslos' (insignificant), the noun 'die Bedeutungslosigkeit' (insignificance).
This abstract noun is often used with verbs that describe a process. A very typical phrase is 'in Bedeutungslosigkeit versinken' (to sink into insignificance).
Ohne neue Ideen droht das Unternehmen in der Bedeutungslosigkeit zu versinken.
Without new ideas, the company risks sinking into insignificance.
'Bedeutungslosigkeit' (insignificance) is a formal word and more common in written language. It is often found in philosophical, literary, or academic texts.
In seinem Roman thematisiert der Autor die Bedeutungslosigkeit des modernen Lebens.
In his novel, the author addresses the insignificance of modern life.
vanity
In elevated, older texts, Eitelkeit can refer to the worthlessness or transience of earthly things. Bedeutungslosigkeit is the modern word for something that has no or only little importance; transience is not automatically implied. For modern statements about a lack of relevance, Bedeutungslosigkeit is therefore more appropriate.
Der heutige Kommentar betont die Bedeutungslosigkeit dieses irdischen Ruhms.
The modern commentary emphasizes the insignificance of this earthly glory.
Der alte Text beklagt die Eitelkeit allen irdischen Ruhms.
The old text laments the vanity of all earthly glory.
