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Definition of wishful

wishful

/ˈwɪʃ.fəl/
wish · ful
Adverb:wishfully
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wishful Lexical Profile

wishful Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Having, expressing, or based on a desire or hope that something will happen, often without a realistic basis in fact.

Example

"Expecting the complex software migration to finish without any bugs is probably just wishful thinking."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for wishful
Antonyms
View all antonyms for wishful

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'wishful' with 'wistful'; 'wishful' describes someone who is hopeful or guided by desire rather than reality (especially in the phrase 'wishful thinking'), whereas 'wistful' describes a feeling of vague, melancholy, or nostalgic longing.

• Rhymes for wishful

• Nearby Words

wish
wishbone
wisher
wishful
wishfully
wishlist
wismar

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English around the late 14th century from the noun 'wish' (from Old English 'wyscan') combined with the suffix '-ful'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wishful. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wishful
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