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Wishfulness - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Wishfulness is the state of having hopeful desires or dreams, often unrealistic or unlikely to happen. It reflects a longing for something that may not be attainable.

wishfulness

/ˈwɪʃfəlnəs/ /ˈwɪʃfəlnəs/

Definition:

A hopeful or unrealistic desire for something unlikely to happen.

Synonyms:

longing, yearning, hopefulness, desire

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

realism, indifference

Common Collocations:

wishful thinking, air of wishfulness, tinged with wishfulness

Derivatives:

wishful, wishfully

Usage Tips:

Use "wishfulness" to describe an impractical hope, often with a tone of gentle longing or naivety.

Common Phrases:

full of wishfulness, pure wishfulness, wistful wishfulness

Etymology:

Derived from "wishful," combining "wish" (Old English *wȳscan*) and the suffix "-ness" indicating a state or quality.

Examples:

  • 1. Her wishfulness made her believe in fairy tales forever.
  • 2. His speech was filled with nostalgic wishfulness for simpler times.
  • 3. She sighed with quiet wishfulness as she watched the sunset alone.
  • 4. The poem captures the tender wishfulness of unfulfilled dreams.

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