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Wishful vs Wistful - What's the difference?

wishful | wistful |

As adjectives the difference between wishful and wistful

is that wishful is wished-for; desired, wanted while wistful is full of yearning or longing.

wishful

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Wished-for; desired, wanted.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , V.9:
    • The cry whereof entring the hollow cave / Eftsoones brought forth the villaine, as they ment, / With hope of her some wishfull boot to have.
  • Expressing a wish or longing for something.
  • Aspiring, or seeking advancement.

    • Derived terms

    * wishful thinking

    wistful

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • full of yearning or longing
    • His eyes grew wistful as he recalled his university days.
  • sad and thoughtful

    • Synonyms

    * (thoughtful sadness) (l)

    References