wishful
having or showing a wish; desirous; longing.
Origin of wishful
1Other words from wishful
- wish·ful·ly, adverb
- wish·ful·ness, noun
- un·wish·ful, adjective
- un·wish·ful·ly, adverb
- un·wish·ful·ness, noun
Words Nearby wishful
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use wishful in a sentence
The Republicans are not as weak and in disarray as some wishful thinkers among the political commentary class seem to think.
It also misses the point that coddling efforts to place wishful thinking over reality has ripple effects.
The Republican conspiracy-theory crisis, in one tweet | Philip Bump | February 3, 2021 | Washington Post“That’s wishful thinking,” said lawyer Patrick McSweeney, who represents five residents challenging Northam’s action.
Residents ask high court to block removal of Richmond’s Robert E. Lee statue as Virginia prepares to act | Gregory S. Schneider | January 26, 2021 | Washington PostIn wishful anticipation for passage of The Honest Ads Act, MediaMath built a database that would have made information publicly available about audience targeting, the amount spent on an ad and who funded it.
‘Wouldn’t make economic sense’: Despite hyped targeting restrictions on 2020 political ads, few new limits are in place | jim cooper | October 12, 2020 | DigidayThoughts like “We’ll handle it when it happens,” or “This is only temporary, and things will get back to normal soon,” are common examples of wishful thinking.
Our quest for better leaders—“Change we can believe in”— is wishful thinking.
Dear White People is a conversation about racism not buried under wishful thinking.
‘Dear White People’ Is the Race Movie America Didn’t Know It Needed | Rawiya Kameir | October 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut 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.
Up To A Point: What We Really Need Is a Nobel War Prize | P. J. O’Rourke | October 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAt 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 | THE DAILY BEASTMore wishful beseeching must surely have softened a Deity with a sunburned nose and a double chin!
The Cruise of the Shining Light | Norman DuncanHe was kind, was this parson, and sweetly wishful for the goodness and welfare of all the erring sons and daughters of men.
The Cruise of the Shining Light | Norman DuncanI can tell that Emily is wishful to pass through this structure.
From Place to Place | Irvin S. CobbIn a little while it leaks out why he's so generous with his promises and so wishful to see us enrolled beneath his noble banner.
Those Times And These | Irvin S. CobbI did not quit it without kissing the very earth and trees, casting back many a wishful look as I went towards Chambery.
The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau, Complete | Jean Jacques Rousseau
British Dictionary definitions for wishful
/ (ˈwɪʃfʊl) /
having wishes or characterized by wishing
Derived forms of wishful
- wishfully, adverb
- wishfulness, 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
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