wishfulness

1 6.7

A feeling of strong hope for something unlikely to happen

noun
/ˈwɪʃfəl.nəs/

Literature

: ilusión

The child's wishfulness was evident as she stared longingly at the toy store window, dreaming of what could be.

Examples

My dreams now are scattered and colored by a wishfulness that I had been more perceptive then.

Fiction book (1992)
And, kneeling on the grass carpet with her soup cup, Carly had heard what she believed to be a saxophone playing, but she wasn't sure; all she knew for certain was that it was like the voice of her own wishfulness and longing.

Fiction book (1995)
Her wishfulness sometimes led her to imagine a perfect future that would never come true.
In moments of quiet, his wishfulness made him yearn for adventures he knew he would never take.

Synonyms

hope

vswishfulness

∞ 1.0

A feeling that something good will happen

is focused on feelings for unlikely outcomes rather than general positive expectation

desire

vswishfulness

∞ 1.6

A strong wish to have or experience something

is focused on feelings toward outcomes that are unlikely rather than general feelings

longing

vswishfulness

69 4.2

A strong wish for someone or something you cannot have

is about feelings for outcomes that are unlikely to happen rather than a person focus

wishful thinking

vswishfulness

Informal

45 4.1

Believing something you want will happen even though it is unlikely

is an emotional state of strong feeling for unlikely things rather than a mistaken belief

yearning

vswishfulness

8 5.5

A strong, lasting wish for something you want but cannot get

is similar but less about persistence and more about seeking unlikely outcomes

hopefulness

vswishfulness

5 1.3

A feeling that good things will happen

is a feeling for unlikely outcomes rather than general optimism about the future

wistfulness

vswishfulness

2 6.8

A gentle, sad feeling of missing the past

is a stronger, clearer feeling for unlikely outcomes rather than vague regret

desideration

vswishfulness

Archaic

9.9

A strong feeling of wanting something that is not there

is a broader state of feelings about unlikely outcomes rather than a discrete act

Antonyms

realism

38 4.5

A way of thinking that accepts facts and prefers practical plans

pragmatism

14 5.6

A practical way of solving problems that focuses on what works

How Wishful

desperation

141 3.7

yearning

8 5.5

wishfulness

Literature

1 6.7

hope

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

wishfulness singular

wishfulnesses plural

Morphology

wishfulness = wishful (transparent) = wish + ful + ness

Formed regularly from 'wish' -> 'wishful' -> 'wishfulness'; the noun denotes the state of being full of wishes and is directly derivable.

Etymology

Wishfulness comes from the everyday word wish plus the endings -ful (meaning 'full of') and -ness (which makes it a state). So it means being 'full of wishes', hoping for something that is unlikely to happen.