wishful thinking
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for wishful thinking, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The belief that something is true or will happen because you want it to, rather than because there is any evidence for it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use wishful thinking
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
nothing but wishful thinking
that's just wishful thinking
wishful thinking on their part
Neutral to mildly critical. Calling someone's view wishful thinking is a polite way of saying it is unrealistic.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between wishful thinking and optimism?
An optimist expects a good outcome but still accepts the evidence and prepares for the alternative. Wishful thinking ignores or reinterprets the evidence so that the desired outcome seems certain. Optimism is an attitude; wishful thinking is a reasoning error.
Is wishful thinking a logical fallacy?
Yes, it is generally classed as an informal fallacy: concluding that something is true because you want it to be. It is sometimes called the appeal to consequences when the argument is that a claim must be false because the consequences would be unpleasant.
Is calling something wishful thinking an insult?
It is a criticism rather than an insult. It says the person's reasoning is driven by hope, which is dismissive of the argument but not of the person.
