Wan (Adjective)

Meaning ¹

Lacking vitality as from weariness or illness or unhappiness; "a wan smile".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• The patient's wan face reflected her long and difficult recovery from the illness.
• After a sleepless night, she looked wan and tired, with dark circles under her eyes.
• The wan expression on the child's face suggested that he was not feeling well.
• Her usual bright personality was replaced with a wan and dismal demeanor after the breakup.
• The wan smile on his face faltered as he struggled to hold back tears during the eulogy.

Meaning ²

(of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble; "the pale light of a half moon"; "a pale sun"; "the late afternoon light coming through the el tracks fell in pale oblongs on the street"; "a pallid sky"; "the pale (or wan) stars"; "the wan light of dawn".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• The wan light of the candles cast eerie shadows on the walls.
• Her wan smile betrayed her exhaustion after the long day.
• The room was dimly lit, with only a wan glow emanating from the television screen.
• After weeks of illness, her once-vibrant complexion had given way to a wan appearance.
• As the sun dipped below the horizon, the wan stars began to twinkle in the evening sky.

Synonyms

• Pallid
• Pale
• Sick

Meaning ³

Abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress; "the pallid face of the invalid"; "her wan face suddenly flushed".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• Her pale complexion looked even more wan after a sleepless night spent worrying about her family's future.
• The patient's wan face lit up with a faint smile when her children came to visit her in the hospital.
• After weeks of struggling with illness, her once radiant face was now a wan and frail shadow of its former self.
• His wan complexion and sunken eyes hinted at the deep sadness he was trying to hide from his friends.
• The painter's use of muted colors and wan light created a haunting atmosphere in the portrait of the abandoned cityscape.

Synonyms

• Pallid
• Pale

Related Words

• Wanness (noun)