as in nostalgic
showing or evoking a sad longing for an often idealized past
She felt wistful looking through her college yearbook, remembering old friends she had not seen in decades.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wistful
Casual spectators come out with sketches of a wealth of musical traditions peppering Puerto Rico’s past and present, while those in the know enjoy both wistful songwriting and a maze of references to beloved music, food, and slang.
—
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
Read the full Gemini Daily Horoscope Cancer (June 22 - July 22)
Feeling wistful?
—USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
His wife becomes the damsel to rescue, and the once spiky Helly, who surprised Mark’s innie with a kiss last season, falls into place as her wistful romantic rival.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2025
In contrast, this Nosferatu begins and ends with Ellen onscreen making decisions — impulsive and shortsighted, purposeful and wistful — about her own life.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wistful 
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
Read the full Gemini Daily Horoscope Cancer (June 22 - July 22)
Feeling wistful?
—USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
His wife becomes the damsel to rescue, and the once spiky Helly, who surprised Mark’s innie with a kiss last season, falls into place as her wistful romantic rival.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2025
In contrast, this Nosferatu begins and ends with Ellen onscreen making decisions — impulsive and shortsighted, purposeful and wistful — about her own life.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wistful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wistful
Adjective
-
How Taylor Swift fits into the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni But the sweet, nostalgic jewelry also has a more personal meaning for Swift and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
29 Jan. 2025
-
These aren’t the only items that will fill your kitchen with nostalgic charm.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
When Union arrived to last year’s Met Gala in a dreamy custom gown by Michael Kors.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
28 Jan. 2025
-
The movie’s dreamy rhythms don’t always add up to much in the way of plot, but that’s rarely an interest for Bentley and Kwedar, who here are more invested in conjuring the sensations of subjectivity.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The fabric is breathable and lightweight without feeling thin or flimsy and the fit is slightly oversized, which gives it a relaxed and casual look that isn’t sloppy.—
Megan Schaltegger,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Jan. 2025
-
In the week leading up to Donald Trump’s inauguration, a brief but sloppy food fight broke out between the Trump team and the outgoing Biden administration over who deserves credit for finalizing a cease-fire deal in the Gaza Strip.—
Noah Rothman,
National Review,
24 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to wistful
Thesaurus Entries Near wistful
Cite this Entry
“Wistful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wistful. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share