WISTFUL Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

wistful

adjective

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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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of wistful Once, at a fund-raising party in San Francisco, a woman approached Lilian with a wistful look. —Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025 Despite their sometimes wistful tone, Lee’s stories aren’t about making the wrong choice, but about being denied any meaningful choice at all. —Camille Bromley, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025 The wistful ballad-like track peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. —Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 8 Jan. 2025 Neither damning nor satiric, W. is oddly wistful, almost regretful — rare sentiments in a Stone film. —Will Leitch, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wistful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wistful

Adjective

Han deliberately juxtaposed high-tech elements like holograms against retro settings like Euljiro, a neighborhood known for its nostalgic atmosphere.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Apr. 2025
My Best Friend’s Wedding, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and The Wedding Planner are pretty alarming in hindsight as well, and yet, people somehow are able to speak about them with nostalgic affection.

— Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025