wan (B1)

adjective

Pronunciation: /wɑːn/

Definition

Pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion.

Examples

• Her skin was wan and her eyes were sunken.

• He had a wan smile, clearly not feeling well.

• The candlelight cast a wan glow on the ancient walls.

How to Use wan

wan and pale (collocation)

Describing someone who is very pale and looks unwell. — "After the accident, he was wan and pale."

Synonyms of wan

Words with a similar meaning to wan:

• pale
• ashen
• pallid
• ghastly

Antonyms of wan

Words with the opposite meaning to wan:

• healthy
• flushed
• ruddy

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