wishful thinking
noun
: the attribution of reality to what one wishes to be true or the tenuous justification of what one wants to believe
Examples of wishful thinking in a Sentence
The idea that the enemy will immediately surrender is nothing more than wishful thinking.
Recent Examples on the Web
Even Trump often seems guilty more of wishful thinking than of something darker, pleading with Fauci to find some sort of silver lining.
—
Jerome Groopman, The New Yorker, 17 June 2024
It feels tacked on: too little, too late, too ludicrous — the past rewritten as a form of wishful thinking.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 14 June 2024
If interest rates come down, then B. If persuadable voters start to pay attention, then C. But what if that’s all nonsense or wishful thinking?
—Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 7 June 2024
The publicity ploy was created to tie in with the wishful thinking and rumors that the power couple could be getting engaged on game day.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wishful thinking 
Jerome Groopman, The New Yorker, 17 June 2024
It feels tacked on: too little, too late, too ludicrous — the past rewritten as a form of wishful thinking.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 14 June 2024
If interest rates come down, then B. If persuadable voters start to pay attention, then C. But what if that’s all nonsense or wishful thinking?
—Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 7 June 2024
The publicity ploy was created to tie in with the wishful thinking and rumors that the power couple could be getting engaged on game day.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wishful thinking
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wishful thinking.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near wishful thinking
Cite this Entry
“Wishful thinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wishful%20thinking. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.
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