wishful thinking

noun

: the attribution of reality to what one wishes to be true or the tenuous justification of what one wants to believe

Examples of wishful thinking in a Sentence

The idea that the enemy will immediately surrender is nothing more than wishful thinking.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Or make small adjustments to maximize your home for connection. Dr. Pam Cantor, founder of the Human Potential LAB, says optimism isn’t wishful thinking but a commitment to action that recruits your biology to spur change. Talia Milgrom-Elcott, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024 Last week’s rumors and rumblings of Malzahn retiring after this season were seemingly nothing but wishful thinking from a growing number of disgruntled UCF fans. Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Nov. 2024 Maybe a bye week spent on a hot Caribbean beach will solve his woes, but that’s probably wishful thinking. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 2 Dec. 2024 And the expectation that Iranians, Lebanese, Palestinians, and Yemenis are going to rise up immediately and throw off the yoke of their brutal oppressors seems more like wishful thinking than informed analysis. Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wishful thinking 

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wishful thinking was in 1932

Dictionary Entries Near wishful thinking

Cite this Entry

“Wishful thinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wishful%20thinking. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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