wan
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A 2012 self-portrait shows a startled, wan Mr. Hockney unhappily staring at the viewer as if we’ve just interrupted a rare moment of peace; it’s a radical departure from his usually cheery depictions of himself.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
But this show is too slight, too wan, to bear the weight of analytical dissection.
From New York Times ● Feb. 15, 2024
But they also make one wish this wan treatment had kept Baldwin’s name out of its mouth.
From Salon ● Jan. 31, 2024
She could have easily swapped roles with social media star Addison Rae, who herself plays a vaguely mean popular girl Gabby; both are brunets with long, wavy hair and similarly wan screen abilities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2023
She looked wan and her eyes were puffy.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
![]()
But if the orchestrations, by Mr. Kitt and Michael Starobin, are atypically wan, Mr. Kitt’s lyrics are even wanner.
From New York Times ● Mar. 1, 2019
Carl's entrances into the Coliseum may have been slightly louder, but Edwin's were appreciably wanner.
From Time Magazine Archive
![]()
Says one Bostonian who knows her well: "There isn't anyone wanner or dearer, when she's feeling good."
From Time Magazine Archive
![]()
When she was out in the drizzle, however, Her Majesty's smile grew wanner and wanner, and sometimes disappeared.
From Time Magazine Archive
![]()
A makeshift signal flag—a red knitted leg wanner of the sort worn by dancers— was knotted to the end of an alder branch by the vehicle's rear exit.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
![]()
I cannot conclude this relation without expressing my wannest thanks to Lord Stirling, for the full patronage I received from him in every stage of the enterprize.
From The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by Jules-Ferdinand Jacquemart
She was dressed in her grey uniform and sheltered under her cape the thinnest, wannest mite of humanity that ever the Club had seen outside of the streets of a city slum.
From Ethel Morton and the Christmas Ship by Mabell S. C. (Mabell Shippie Clarke) Smith
Owen's heart beat with honest pride as he stepped down from the platform and walked side by side with his giant opponent,—still his wannest friend.
From The Cave by the Beech Fork A Story of Kentucky?1815 by Henry S. Spalding
My brother," cried Henry, with the wannest pleasure, "you have played me the most agreeable trick in the world, and have showed me the full confidence I may place in you.
From Historical Tales, Vol. 4 (of 15) The Romance of Reality by Charles Morris
Their conduct merits our wannest esteem; and I beg leave to add, that I think the public will do well to make them a handsome gratuity.
From The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by Jules-Ferdinand Jacquemart
Not precisely royal fare, but nourishing; it tasted good enough and wanned the belly.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
![]()
Mademoiselle was poking at a rusty stove that smoked a little and wanned the room indifferently.
From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin
![]()
Around noon, when the air had wanned, Frightful gave the little eyas the last bites of the rat.
From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
![]()
And by and by The wide-winged sunset wanned and waned; The lean night-wind crept westward, chilling and sighing; The poor old hulk remained, p. 63Stuck helpless in mid-ebb.
From Hawthorn and Lavender with Other Verses by William Ernest Henley
She had never met him until to-day, and yet her heart wanned toward him more and more.
From Infelice by Augusta J. (Augusta Jane) Evans
Stark Young takes a view of art which is wanning to those tired of abstruse and cerebral esthetics.
From Time Magazine Archive
![]()
It had a slim chance of wanning its fight.
From Time Magazine Archive
![]()
It was a French sportwriter just wanning up to the famed Tour de France, the month-long bicycle race that attracts the world's largest crowds.
From Time Magazine Archive
![]()
She sat holding it in her hand, while the music penetrated her whole being like an effulgence, wanning and brightening the dark places of her soul.
From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin
![]()
The Proclaimers are just wanning up on that misery-to-happiness song—the follow-up to “Five Hundred Miles.”
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
![]()
Vocabulary lists containing wan
The Call of the Wild
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Speak
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT words Beginning with W,X,Y, and Z
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!