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.
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Recent Examples of wistful
That's a credit to how Laufey faithfully mines that era with letter-perfect precision and authenticity: from the melodies and lovelorn lyrics to Laufey's wistful and sultry voice.
—
David Chiu, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
What’s different, after 25 years of all that freshly unashamed ABBA love, is that our wistful nostalgia isn’t just for ABBA anymore.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
But with their slower pace of life and wistful air of nostalgia, there’s just something about small towns.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025
Last night, the rising music hero took on the House of Blues in Anaheim, filling the venue with his nostalgic sounds and wistful anthems as part of his Ultra Sodade tour.
—Lucas Villa, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wistful
David Chiu, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
What’s different, after 25 years of all that freshly unashamed ABBA love, is that our wistful nostalgia isn’t just for ABBA anymore.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
But with their slower pace of life and wistful air of nostalgia, there’s just something about small towns.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025
Last night, the rising music hero took on the House of Blues in Anaheim, filling the venue with his nostalgic sounds and wistful anthems as part of his Ultra Sodade tour.
—Lucas Villa, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wistful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wistful
Adjective
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This return to tradition isn’t simply nostalgic.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
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Period-appropriate musical elements will help establish the nostalgic atmosphere.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Ceiling murals in both rooms have been partly worn or scraped away, leaving a dreamy abstract pattern.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
12 Sep. 2025
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The upside, however, to sitting through this questionable season of what has been a mostly dreamy series?—
Vogue,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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According to Amazon reviews, the material is soft with just the right amount of stretch, while the fit is roomy without looking sloppy.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
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In that high‑tempo, but sloppy matchup, the Wildcats fell 46‑24, with Mari Adams, a top running back, contributing heavily on the ground and showing flashes of explosive play.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wistful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wistful. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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