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
Beyond the wistful setlist, technical glitches clashed with Ye’s artistic vision.
—
Adelle Platon, VIBE.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Brian Tyler’s score occasionally reaches for something grander, even wistful, but it’s lost in the sensory overload.
—Zaki Hasan, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Mar. 2026
The hazy work melds notes in its wistful beginning before growing in strength and power, then gently releasing at the end.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Fueled by that wistful mission, Magnifica plans to be wheels up in September 2027.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wistful
Adelle Platon, VIBE.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Brian Tyler’s score occasionally reaches for something grander, even wistful, but it’s lost in the sensory overload.
—Zaki Hasan, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Mar. 2026
The hazy work melds notes in its wistful beginning before growing in strength and power, then gently releasing at the end.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Fueled by that wistful mission, Magnifica plans to be wheels up in September 2027.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wistful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wistful
Adjective
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What’s left is less of a roaring action flick and more of a recurring nostalgic flicker.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
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However, not every nostalgic throwback deserves a second chance.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Over the top of these more ragged edges, Llobet takes a pointillistic approach to lyric writing, favoring half-thoughts and dreamy images that coalesce into a picture of unsettled anxiety.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
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Lose yourself in this dreamy bookstore Stepping into Bird’s Bookstore feels like entering an interior designer’s private library.—
Nathanael Gassett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But the Pistons were sloppy with the ball and careless overall in a 94-88 loss to the Orlando Magic on Monday night, falling behind 3-1 in their first-round Eastern Conference series.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
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The Wolves started out sloppy with nine first-quarter turnovers and finished with 25.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wistful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wistful. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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