To be wistful is to feel sad and nostalgically sentimental. Sometimes wistful feelings are a sign that someone is feeling lonely or abandoned.
She was wistful as she looked at the pictures of her past.
The wistful look on his face said it all.
adjective
showing pensive sadness
Synonyms:
1
That was the initial wistful thinking.
2
The overall impression is both languid and wistful.
3
I took the comment as sincerely, not ironically, wistful.
4
The effect of wistful intimacy is not a result of improvisational looseness.
5
The sad, wistful gaze is typical of mummy portraits.
6
It makes the earth sound like a wistful and romantic entity.
7
Many of them are wistful, dreamy and melancholic but also naturalistic.
8
The fourth movement of the Serenade is a tranquil, wistful slow movement.
9
Her distracted and wistful mood arouses sexual interest in him.
10
Her words were wistful, melancholic and foreshadowed the pain to come.