wanly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'wanly' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adverb that means in a weak, pale, or sickly manner. Example: She looked wanly at the bowl of soup in front of her, too exhausted to have more than a few spoonfuls. In this sentence, 'wanly' describes how the subject looked at the bowl of soup, indicating that she was weak or sickly.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She smiled wanly and handed me my birthday present, a CD compilation entitled Songs for Meditation.

The Guardian

He was wanly conceding that money for the Horse might not be forthcoming.

The Guardian - Arts

There are also works by Ragheb Ayad, Abul Hadi El-Gazzar, the Wanly brothers, Seif and Adham, who painted together, and two rare folkloric paintings by Abdel Hadi El-Ghazzar, who died in 1965 aged 40 (see slideshow below).Hamed Nada, a painter who exhibited in Paris and Cairo through the late 1940s and early 1950s, has six works in this sale.

The Economist

The press officer, smiling wanly, cannot say.There is a whiff of Vienna in Whitehall these days.

The Economist

A creeping ascentTHE world economy continued to recover from the financial crisis in 2013, albeit wanly.

The Economist

THE world economy continued to recover from the financial crisis in 2013, albeit wanly.

The Economist

When asked how the government might craft legislation to define traditional communities, or popular participation, or any number of other concepts enshrined in the constitution, Mr Chaiwat responds wanly, "We have to think about that".

The Economist

At the conference, various doctors wanly described how little various combinations of steroids and anti-viral agents seemed to help SARS patients.

The Economist

Dmitrichenko smiled wanly as the verdict was read aloud for more than three hours in a packed, humid courtroom.

Independent

Thereafter it drooped wanly as it was held over his head.

Independent

With an avalanche of examples, Gellman and Becker show how Cheney successfully pushed tax cuts for the very rich that went beyond what even the President, wanly clinging to the shards of "compassionate conservatism," and his economic advisers wanted.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "wanly" with verbs that denote actions or expressions, such as "smiled wanly", "looked wanly", or "replied wanly", to effectively communicate the subject's state.

Common error

Avoid using "wanly" simply as a substitute for "sadly". While there can be overlap in meaning, "wanly" specifically denotes a weakened or pale state, not necessarily sorrow. Choose "sadly" if the primary emotion is sadness, not physical or emotional weakness.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "wanly" primarily functions as a modifier of verbs, describing the manner in which an action is performed. It conveys a sense of weakness, paleness, or lack of vitality. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Wanly" is a grammatically sound adverb used to describe actions performed in a weak, pale, or sickly manner. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and prevalence across various sources, especially in news and media. While it is frequently employed, be mindful to use it accurately, differentiating it from mere sadness. Alternative terms like "feebly" or "weakly" may be more appropriate depending on the intended nuance. By adhering to best practices and avoiding common errors, you can effectively incorporate "wanly" into your writing to add depth and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weakly

Highlights the lack of physical or emotional strength.

feebly

Focuses on the lack of strength or vigor in the action.

palely

Emphasizes the lack of color or vibrancy in appearance.

wearily

Emphasizes the feeling of tiredness or exhaustion.

listlessly

Indicates a lack of energy or enthusiasm.

faintly

Suggests a lack of intensity or clarity.

sickly

Highlights a state of illness or poor health.

languidly

Implies a slow, relaxed, and weak manner.

without energy

Expresses a general lack of vitality or strength.

in a tired manner

Focuses on the fatigued way in which something is done.

FAQs

How can I use "wanly" in a sentence?

Use "wanly" to describe an action performed in a weak or pale manner. For example, "She smiled "wanly" after hearing the bad news" indicates a weak or forced smile.

What does "wanly" mean?

"Wanly" means in a weak, pale, or sickly manner. It describes how someone looks or acts when they are unwell, tired, or lacking energy.

What can I say instead of "wanly"?

You can use alternatives like "feebly", "weakly", or "palely" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "wanly" or "weakly"?

Both "wanly" and "weakly" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Wanly" suggests paleness or sickliness, while "weakly" simply implies a lack of strength. The choice depends on the specific context.