wistful
Quietly sad because you are longing for something you cannot have.
wistful in a sentence
- Ana gave the sledge a wistful look as the last of the snow melted away.
- Grandpa grew wistful over the old photographs, quietly missing the village where he grew up.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to wistful?
- Ahappy
- Bcontent
- Csatisfied
- Dlonging
Show the answer
D: longing. The other three mean the opposite of wistful.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to wistful?
- Asad
- Bcontent
- Cdreamy
- Dlonging
Show the answer
B: content. The other three mean nearly the same as wistful.
Words that mean something similar
longing, sad, dreamy
Words that mean the opposite
content, happy, satisfied
More words about emotions & feelings
- woe: A feeling of deep sadness or big trouble.
- wrath: Very great anger.
- wretched: Very unhappy, or in a very poor and miserable state.
- yearn: To want something so much that it almost hurts.
- zest: A feeling of great enjoyment and enthusiasm.
- affectionate: Showing love and fondness in a warm, caring way.
- aghast: Filled with shock and horror.
- agitated: Upset and unable to keep still or calm.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test