wistful
1 synonym for wistful, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Filled with a gentle sadness or longing, especially for something in the past.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use wistful
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a wistful smile
a wistful sigh
wistful memories
Etymology
Probably built from the older word whist ("silent") plus -ful, though its meaning was shaped over time by association with "wishful."
Full origin of wistful →Frequently asked questions
What does “wistful” mean?
The word “wistful” means filled with a gentle sadness or longing, especially for something in the past. In plain terms, a quiet, sad kind of longing, often for something now gone.
How do you pronounce “wistful”?
“Wistful” is pronounced WIHST-fuhl (/ˈwɪstfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “wistful” in a sentence?
Here is “wistful” used in a sentence: “She gave a wistful smile as she looked through the old photographs.”
What part of speech is “wistful”?
“Wistful” is an adjective.
