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
Musgraves and Hannah Lux Davis co-directed the song’s cheeky video, which is set in a grocery store and is ripe with fruit-touching and wistful stares.
—
Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Wise’s wistful songwriting is retained, but completely missing is his intentionally impure palette.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2026
With the start of the 2026 growing season inching closer, many seasoned gardeners of ornamental perennial and flower beds may be interested in expanding their horizons, venturing into the wonderful, wayfaring, wistful world of vegetable gardening.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Cabrera was upbeat but hardly turned reflective or wistful.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wistful
Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Wise’s wistful songwriting is retained, but completely missing is his intentionally impure palette.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2026
With the start of the 2026 growing season inching closer, many seasoned gardeners of ornamental perennial and flower beds may be interested in expanding their horizons, venturing into the wonderful, wayfaring, wistful world of vegetable gardening.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Cabrera was upbeat but hardly turned reflective or wistful.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wistful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wistful
Adjective
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Festival lineups are also mirroring this nostalgic feeling.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Body Mists Instead of staying stranded in nostalgic recollections of your middle school gym bag, body mists have actually grown up right alongside us.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Cameron House is dreamy, in part for its location and breath-taking views and in part for its blend of baronial grandeur and modern luxury.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
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The North Carolina folk-rock band’s quiet and rambling third album exists in a cloud of dreamy contemplation.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Nico Hoerner hit a leadoff homer and then delivered an RBI double during a five-run fifth inning as the Chicago Cubs beat the sloppy Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Still, plushy, squelchy chairs don’t have to look sloppy either.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wistful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wistful. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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