wistfulness

[ wist-fuhl-nis ]

noun

1. a mental state or emotion characterized by melancholy, longing, or pensiveness, or an instance of this:

   The film’s visuals occasionally aspire to the dark contours of a graphic novel, and, at other times, evoke the wistfulness of a watercolor painting.

   It's an extreme novel that conveys its dark message with heart and many moments of wistfulness.

Other Words From

• un·wist·ful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wistfulness¹

wistful ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

On some level, I can’t help but feel a wistful curiosity about a new Harry Potter series, because I still love the Harry Potter characters and universe.

From Vox

I became wistful just test-driving them, wishing these vehicles could ferry family and friends to lively get-togethers.

From Washington Blade

“We know already about how the holidays can be particularly triggering for people if you’re already feeling lonely or wistful, if you’ve lost a loved one or a close friend,” she says.

From MIT Technology Review

They always had a wistful, bleary, but satisfied look when they looked around.

From Washington Post

But the words “responsible” and “Republican” are no longer typeable together except in moods of mockery, or at least wistfulness.

From The Daily Beast

That gave last night's dinner with Ahmadinejad an air of wistfulness tinged with growing fear.

From The Daily Beast

Winston smiled, though there was a wistfulness in his eyes as he saw the faint bewilderment in his companions' faces.

From Project Gutenberg

For at least five minutes he stood without moving, his whole face softened into a boyish wistfulness.

From Project Gutenberg

She rose at this, turning her eyes about the room as if from the extremity of martyrdom or the wistfulness of some deep thought.

From Project Gutenberg

She always suggested tea before the hour, and her friend always, but with so different a wistfulness, rang for it.

From Project Gutenberg

I was awake at once––wide awake for him: moved by the wistfulness of this appeal to some perception of his need.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• boredom
• despair
• desperation
• despondency
• ennui
• gloom
• grief
• sorrow