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
Much of the criticism of the UAE goes far beyond caution and reflects manipulation, oversimplification and wishful thinking.
—
Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
That may err on the side of slightly wishful thinking, but the club at least has a better head start on eternal life than most.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
His victory embodies the triumph of wishful thinking over reality.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
But the way the storyline wraps ups — with one of the three billionaires, Logan Lerman’s Jay, deciding to step up and own his role in the season’s shady dealings, therefore taking himself down alongside his other culprits — was certainly some wishful thinking that could, one day, prove prophetic.
—Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wishful thinking
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Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
That may err on the side of slightly wishful thinking, but the club at least has a better head start on eternal life than most.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
His victory embodies the triumph of wishful thinking over reality.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
But the way the storyline wraps ups — with one of the three billionaires, Logan Lerman’s Jay, deciding to step up and own his role in the season’s shady dealings, therefore taking himself down alongside his other culprits — was certainly some wishful thinking that could, one day, prove prophetic.
—Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wishful thinking
Cite this Entry
“Wishful thinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wishful%20thinking. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.
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