wistfulness

American

[wist-fuhl-nis] / ˈwɪst fəl nɪs /

noun

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 Word Forms

unwistfulness

noun

Etymology

Origin of wistfulness

wistful ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

wistfulness

As much as you might plan to stay involved in their lives through frequent video chats and phone calls, mild wistfulness can turn into intense sorrow with each passing month.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

Singsong rhyme and meter are out; free verse and wistfulness are in.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

Amid the rebuke, brands have recoiled back within the antiseptic neutrality where they’re most comfortable: irrelevant celebrity cameos, cheap millennial nostalgia, unmoored wistfulness for simpler days.

From Slate ● Feb. 8, 2026