of an unnatural or sickly pallor; pallid; lacking color

His wan face suddenly flushed.

showing or suggesting ill health, fatigue, unhappiness, etc.

a wan look; a wan smile.

lacking in forcefulness, competence, or effectiveness

their wan attempts to organize the alumni.

Archaic .

dark or gloomy.

pale in color or hue.

to become or make wan.

adjective

colorful , flushed , strong

adjective

anemic , ashen , ashy , bilious , blanched , bleached , bloodless , cadaverous , dim , discolored , faint , feeble , forceless , ghastly , haggard , ineffective , ineffectual , livid , pale , pallid , pasty , peaked , sickly , washed-out , waxen , white , worn , careworn , drawn , gaunt , hollow-eyed , colorless , lurid , sallow , dismal , fade , gloomy , languid , melancholy , paleness , sad , sorrowful , weak

verb

blanch , bleach , etiolate