wan

[wɒn]

wan Definition

• 1. pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion
• 2. lacking enthusiasm or energy; feeble

Using wan: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "wan" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  She looked wan and tired after the long journey.

• Example

  His wan smile showed how little he cared.

• Example

  The party was a wan affair with few guests and little excitement.

wan Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for wan

• pale
• ashen
• sallow
• colorless
• lifeless

Antonyms for wan

• rosy
• flushed
• glowing

Phrases with wan

• wan hope

  a hope that is weak and unlikely to be fulfilled

  Example

  Despite the odds, she clung to a wan hope that her business would succeed.

• wan smile

  a smile that lacks enthusiasm or warmth

  Example

  He gave her a wan smile that failed to hide his disappointment.

• wan complexion

  a pale and sickly-looking complexion

  Example

  Her wan complexion suggested that she was suffering from anemia.

Origins of wan

from Old English 'wan', meaning 'dark, lacking luster'

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Summary: wan in Brief

The term 'wan' [wɒn] describes a pale, sickly appearance or a lack of enthusiasm or energy. It can be used to describe people, as in 'She looked wan and tired,' or events, as in 'The party was a wan affair.' 'Wan' can also be used in phrases like 'wan hope' or 'wan complexion,' which denote weak or unlikely situations.