wishful

[wish-fuh l]

See more synonyms for wishful on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having or showing a wish; desirous; longing.

Origin of wishful

First recorded in 1515–25; wish + -ful

Related formswish·ful·ly, adverbwish·ful·ness, nounun·wish·ful, adjectiveun·wish·ful·ly, adverbun·wish·ful·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for wishful

Contemporary Examples

Our quest for better leaders—“Change we can believe in”— is wishful thinking.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans
Philip K. Howard
December 27, 2014
But the idea he is going to attract droves of non-traditional Republican supporters is nothing more than wishful thinking.
Rand Paul's Bill Maher Problem
Jamie Weinstein
October 14, 2014
Sometimes the wishful thinking was done by well-known individuals—the Dalai Lama and Ralph Bunche.
Up To A Point: What We Really Need Is a Nobel War Prize
P. J. O’Rourke
October 11, 2014
At least 65 Peace Prizes have been awarded for wishful thinking.
Up To A Point: What We Really Need Is a Nobel War Prize
P. J. O’Rourke
October 11, 2014
Does a Middle East foreign policy determined by wishful thinking and poor information sound familiar?
America, Once Again Dazed and Confused in the Middle East
Scott Anderson
September 22, 2013

Historical Examples

But, in spite of these ordinary defects, he was fond of his work and wishful to excel in it.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
He looked at me real sharp, an' sort of wishful, and then he says, "You look like a good woman."
Against Odds
Lawrence L. Lynch
I can tell that Emily is wishful to pass through this structure.
From Place to Place
Irvin S. Cobb
I hoped that I was correct; maybe it was wishful thinking, but I claim that right.
Highways in Hiding
George Oliver Smith
We are weary of our voyage of discovery and wishful to arrive at the promised land.
Hilaire Belloc
C. Creighton Mandell

British Dictionary definitions for wishful

wishful

adjective

having wishes or characterized by wishing

Derived Formswishfully, adverbwishfulness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for wishful

adj.

1520s, from wish (n.) + -ful. Related: Wishfully; wishfulness. Wishful thinking is recorded from 1932.

wishful

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}wishful

Examples from the Web for wishful

Contemporary Examples

Our quest for better leaders—“Change we can believe in”— is wishful thinking.

But the idea he is going to attract droves of non-traditional Republican supporters is nothing more than wishful thinking.

Sometimes the wishful thinking was done by well-known individuals—the Dalai Lama and Ralph Bunche.

At least 65 Peace Prizes have been awarded for wishful thinking.

Does a Middle East foreign policy determined by wishful thinking and poor information sound familiar?

Historical Examples

But, in spite of these ordinary defects, he was fond of his work and wishful to excel in it.

He looked at me real sharp, an' sort of wishful, and then he says, "You look like a good woman."

I can tell that Emily is wishful to pass through this structure.

I hoped that I was correct; maybe it was wishful thinking, but I claim that right.

We are weary of our voyage of discovery and wishful to arrive at the promised land.

wishful

Word Origin and History for wishful

adj.

Origin of wishful