wan

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

For each of those successes, there are several messy misfires: The wan camp of “The Politician.”

From Salon ● Feb. 12, 2026

But this show is too slight, too wan, to bear the weight of analytical dissection.

From New York Times ● Feb. 15, 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

Between that, studying for her classes, and the unusually long, wet winter, she had grown wan and pale and sometimes depressed, so she luxuriated in the fresh air and bright sunlight on the ferry.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

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

Says one Bostonian who knows her well: "There isn't anyone wanner or dearer, when she's feeling good."

From Time Magazine Archive

Carl's entrances into the Coliseum may have been slightly louder, but Edwin's were appreciably wanner.

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

In many a laboured scene of the wannest humour and of the most affecting passion I have seen the best actors disconcerted, while these buzzing muscatos have been fluttering round their eyes and ears.

From The Palmy Days of Nance Oldfield by Edward Robins

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

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

To get the two hundred pounds required to pay off the mortgage upon 'Bachelors' Hall,' Clare addressed himself first to Lord Radstock, whom he looked upon as one of his wannest and most sincere friends.

From The Life of John Clare by Frederick Martin

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

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

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, Stuck helpless in mid-ebb.

From Highways and Byways in Sussex by Frederick Landseer Maur Griggs

A thrill of affection for this place wanned the young man.

From The Spoilers by Rex Ellingwood Beach

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

It had a slim chance of wanning its fight.

From Time Magazine Archive

Stark Young takes a view of art which is wanning to those tired of abstruse and cerebral esthetics.

From Time Magazine Archive

“So I work for a relief agency,” she said, wanning up.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

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