wishful thinking

noun

1. interpretation of facts, actions, words, etc., as one would like them to be rather than as they really are; imagining as actual what is not.

wishful thinking

noun

1. the erroneous belief that one's wishes are in accordance with reality

Derived Forms

• wishful thinker, noun

Other Words From

• wishful thinker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wishful thinking¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Idioms and Phrases

Interpreting matters as one would like them to be, as opposed to what they really are. For example, Matthew wanted to be a basketball player, but with his height that was wishful thinking . This term comes from Freudian psychology of the mid-1920s and soon began to be used more loosely.

Example Sentences

For all their wishful thinking, climate science suggests there is no future in the region that does not include serious disruptions to its economy, growth trajectory and perhaps even quality of life.

From ProPublica

Such initiatives sound a little vague, and calls for change always have a whiff of wishful thinking about them.

From MIT Technology Review

They took a sip more out of curiosity than wishful thinking.

From Washington Blade

Well, I’m here to say that’s wishful thinking for a pair of $130 earbuds.

From Popular-Science

Given the full year during which it could have taken place, that certainly raises questions about just how much they were going on, beyond wishful thinking and innuendo.

From Washington Post

Our quest for better leaders—“Change we can believe in”— is wishful thinking.

From The Daily Beast

Dear White People is a conversation about racism not buried under wishful thinking.

From The Daily Beast

But the idea he is going to attract droves of non-traditional Republican supporters is nothing more than wishful thinking.

From The Daily Beast

Sometimes the wishful thinking was done by well-known individuals—the Dalai Lama and Ralph Bunche.

From The Daily Beast

At least 65 Peace Prizes have been awarded for wishful thinking.

From The Daily Beast

This impression was generally discredited, people were surfeited with optimism; they felt our reports were wishful thinking.

From Project Gutenberg

This is contrasted to happenstance decision making based on impulsiveness and wishful thinking.

From Project Gutenberg

Subconsciously he knew that this, at the very best, was wishful thinking.

From Project Gutenberg

However, for the present, it was just so much wishful thinking as far as Dawson was concerned.

From Project Gutenberg

It's wishful thinking and we cannot permit such daydreaming in our precarious condition.

From Project Gutenberg