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Definition of wistfulness

wistfulness

/ˈwɪst.fəl.nəs/
wist · ful · ness
Adverb:wistfully
•
Adjective:wistful
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wistfulness Lexical Profile

wistfulness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A state of quiet, pensive sadness and gentle yearning, especially for something in the past or something unattainable.

Example

"A sense of wistfulness washed over her as she flipped through the pages of her childhood photo album."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for wistfulness

• Nearby Words

wisteria
wistful
wistfully
wistfulness
wit
witch
witch hazel

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed from the adjective 'wistful' and the noun suffix '-ness'. 'Wistful' emerged in the early 17th century as an alteration of the obsolete 'whistful' (from 'whist', meaning silent or intently attentive), blended with 'wishful' and the archaic 'wistly' (intently).

Cite this Entry

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