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
Brimming with humor and heart-tugging emotion, this wise and wistful masterpiece is also one of the most visually stunning shows to hit New York in ages.
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Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
The zany magic of the screwballs of the 1930s and 1940s eventually faded, and the 1950s brought more wistful fare, like Roman Holiday.
—Esther Zuckerman, Rolling Stone, 27 Dec. 2024
In a similar vein, Malloy’s musical score is almost anonymously eclectic — wistful ballads, stomping pop, a smattering of EDM — but threaded through with enough strains of Russian folk and klezmer to suggest a sense of place.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024
These are ballads about cheating and addiction, and reflections on wistful memories and true love.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wistful 
Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
The zany magic of the screwballs of the 1930s and 1940s eventually faded, and the 1950s brought more wistful fare, like Roman Holiday.
—Esther Zuckerman, Rolling Stone, 27 Dec. 2024
In a similar vein, Malloy’s musical score is almost anonymously eclectic — wistful ballads, stomping pop, a smattering of EDM — but threaded through with enough strains of Russian folk and klezmer to suggest a sense of place.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024
These are ballads about cheating and addiction, and reflections on wistful memories and true love.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wistful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wistful
Adjective
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Private developers and municipalities have invested millions into the site to capitalize on its rural and nostalgic charm, including plans to build a boutique hotel.Linh Ta, Axios, 16 Jan. 2025
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For Gardner, the trend's resurgence is both nostalgic and exciting.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Balsamic glazes are dreamy in homemade salad dressings, of course.Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2025
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Sweet Pink by Alo There’s no time like now to color your workout the dreamiest shade of pink.Angela Lei, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The word out of Arizona is that Kingsbury’s Cardinals teams were too often sloppy and undisciplined and that his full-team leadership skills and oversight have been lacking.Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
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In the unreliable reality the older Owen inhabits, his favorite childhood show was in fact silly, sloppy, and decidedly low-stakes.Samantha Allen, Them, 14 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Wistful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wistful. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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