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
Lindsay looks at old photos of them online with a half-wistful, half-embittered expression, but ultimately blocks him.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
One bizarre, nearly 7-minute interlude featured Susan Sarandon playing an older version of Carpenter, delivering a wistful monologue about what a future niece might think of her.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for wistful
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
One bizarre, nearly 7-minute interlude featured Susan Sarandon playing an older version of Carpenter, delivering a wistful monologue about what a future niece might think of her.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for wistful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wistful
Adjective
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Mary Ann says her customers have similar nostalgic experiences here.—
Chelsea Brasted,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
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Even the rhythms of the editing feel very 1990s, which no doubt help this appeal to older millennial dads nostalgic for their wilder years.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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An afternoon stroll with Oscar (Diego Calva), who begins as Arlo’s social worker and becomes Peter’s love interest, is invitingly honey-colored in the sunlight, while a druggy nightclub hookup devolves into a dreamy blur of body parts.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
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The brand expanded into fragrance with its Best of Beauty-winning Honey Infused Hair Perfumes in several dreamy scents, including classic Wildflower Honey, floral Wild Rose, and vibrant Lavender Berry.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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These Amazon finds are made for petite travelers who want to stay comfortable without defaulting to sloppy sweats.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
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Spurs seemed to run out of energy and their passing became sloppy.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wistful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wistful. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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