Cryptic crossword clue
Vain and noble, otherwise impossible to sustain 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word NONVIABLE

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
N
O
N
V
I
A
B
L
E

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The straight part
We know that "impossible to sustain" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case impossible to sustain = nonviable.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does NONVIABLE mean?

NONVIABLE adjective
  1. Not viable: not capable of independent life; not practicable.

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