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Meanings of wishful in English

Desiring or striving for recognition or advancement.

Related terms

Having or expressing desire for something.

Related terms
Usage of wishful in English
1
However, I fear this might simply be a case of wishful thinking.
The Guardian
2
Of course its answer is simplistically correct, but unfortunately is wishful thinking.
The Irish Times
3
Either that, or a dangerous case of British hubris and wishful thinking.
Reuters
4
Although that may be wishful thinking, a few factors support the idea.
Reuters
5
It wasn't wishful thinking, or magic, but a simple law of nature.
Second glance
6
I agreed with him for a short time-butit was wishful thinking.
Quicksilver
7
It required no wishful thinking to detect a shocked response in Cardale.
Long time coming: a novel
8
It just is, and no amount of wishful thinking can change that.
The Guardian
9
Kennedy wondered how much of her assessment was formed by wishful thinking.
Act of treason
10
Hazel was in the grip of utter forlornness, moody, wishful to cry.
North of Fifty-Three
11
She waited for another touch, but perhaps it had been wishful thinking.
The chamber of ten
12
They didn't seem to develop ideas so much as entire wishful philosophies.
The evolutionary void
13
I'm burying the wishful part of me, the prey part of me.
Austenland
14
The men sat awed, each man wishful to creep behind his neighbour.
Bog-Myrtle and Peat / Tales Chiefly of Galloway Gathered from th...
15
The wishful childlike tone made him press his lips together in regret.
The Neutronium Alchemist
16
Or maybe that was just wishful thinking, because she shook her head.
Love- from his point of view!
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More collocations
Wishful through the time
Wishful across language varieties
Ireland
Common
United States of America
Common
United Kingdom
Common