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
That kind of wishful thinking could lead you to lose lots of money.
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Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 11 July 2024
Is this just wishful thinking, or is there good reason to think this is the year Emmy voters come around as Peabody, Gotham, Indie Spirit, and AFI awards bestowers already have?
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 June 2024
Much of this was wishful thinking born of a hangover from the pre-revolutionary days, but what was perhaps most remarkable was that Tehran considered the arms deal at all.
—Ali M. Ansari, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2024
Below are a few contenders, some picked up through the grapevine, others spun from pure fantasy and a pinch of wishful thinking.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for wishful thinking 
Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 11 July 2024
Is this just wishful thinking, or is there good reason to think this is the year Emmy voters come around as Peabody, Gotham, Indie Spirit, and AFI awards bestowers already have?
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 June 2024
Much of this was wishful thinking born of a hangover from the pre-revolutionary days, but what was perhaps most remarkable was that Tehran considered the arms deal at all.
—Ali M. Ansari, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2024
Below are a few contenders, some picked up through the grapevine, others spun from pure fantasy and a pinch of wishful thinking.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for wishful thinking
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wishful thinking.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 27 Jul. 2024.
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