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
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
Riley finally is coming home, returning Sunday with the unveiling of a long overdue statue in whose bronze reflection a couple of wistful realizations can be found.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Over his long career, Robert Duvall brought a wide range of characters to life, from tough Marines to wistful, tender-hearted cowboys.
—Glen Weldon, NPR, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wistful
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
Riley finally is coming home, returning Sunday with the unveiling of a long overdue statue in whose bronze reflection a couple of wistful realizations can be found.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Over his long career, Robert Duvall brought a wide range of characters to life, from tough Marines to wistful, tender-hearted cowboys.
—Glen Weldon, NPR, 16 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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This team is inconsistent, sloppy and soft.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
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Just six of those came in the second half and the Bruins took better care of the ball while running their offense more efficiently, but sloppy play and frustration have flared up despite the Bruins’ veteran leadership.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wistful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wistful. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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