wistful smile

USAGE SUMMARY

"wistful smile" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone's facial expression as being sad, longing, or thoughtful. Example: As she looked out at the sunset, a wistful smile played across her lips, memories of happier times flooding her mind.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

She smiled a wistful smile.

The New Yorker

A wistful smile crawled across his lips.

The Guardian - Sport

"Everything remains the same," she says, with a wistful smile.

The New Yorker

"Which, sadly, always goes out," he adds with a wistful smile.

The New Yorker

Godelieva, who had blond hair and a wistful smile, made many friends during these years.

The New Yorker

Adams recalls his bending of the N.C.A.A. rules with a wistful smile.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Where are our wistful smiles now?

The New Yorker

'He smiled, one of those wistful smiles, like he was already missing something that wasn't gone yet.

The Guardian

Many citizens agreed that it was a sad moment for the birthplace of democracy.Yet Athenians were also saying, with wistful smiles, that it had been a good party while it lasted.

The Economist

Many citizens agreed that it was a sad moment for the birthplace of democracy.Yet Athenians were also saying, with wistful smiles, that, for the past ten years or so, it had been a good party.

The Economist

Guaranteed laughs and wistful smiles.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wistful smile" to convey a sense of longing or gentle sadness when describing a character's expression in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "wistful smile" in situations where the sadness is too intense or dramatic. Opt for a more direct description of sorrow to prevent undermining the emotional impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wistful smile" functions as a noun phrase used to describe a specific type of facial expression. Ludwig's examples show it modifying verbs like 'crawled', 'plays', or used in apposition, as in 'a wistful smile on his face'. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, adding detail and emotional context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Academia

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wistful smile" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a facial expression that blends sadness and longing. Ludwig's analysis, shows that the expression is most frequently found in News & Media and is considered neutral in tone. When using this phrase, it is important to consider the context to ensure it accurately conveys the intended emotion, while avoiding overuse in overly sentimental situations. Alternative phrases, such as "melancholy smile" or "sad smile", may be more appropriate depending on the specific shade of emotion you wish to portray.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

melancholy smile

Emphasizes the sadness or pensiveness behind the smile.

sad smile

Directly conveys the sadness present in the smile.

longing smile

Highlights the desire or yearning reflected in the smile.

pensive smile

Focuses on the thoughtfulness or contemplation accompanying the smile.

reflective smile

Suggests the smile is caused by deep thought or remembering something.

tender smile

Highlights the gentleness or affection conveyed by the smile.

bittersweet smile

Captures the mix of happiness and sadness in the expression.

resigned smile

Indicates acceptance or understanding, despite sadness.

knowing smile

Suggests the smile is caused by the knowledge of some secret or shared experience.

gentle smile

Focuses on the soft, delicate nature of the smile.

FAQs

How to use "wistful smile" in a sentence?

You can use "wistful smile" to describe a facial expression that conveys a sense of longing, nostalgia, or gentle sadness. For example, "A "wistful smile" played on her lips as she remembered her childhood".

What can I say instead of "wistful smile"?

You can use alternatives like "melancholy smile", "sad smile", or "longing smile" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "wistful smile" or "wistfully smiling"?

"Wistful smile" is a noun phrase describing the expression itself. "Wistfully smiling" is a verb phrase describing the action of smiling in a wistful manner. Both are grammatically correct but used in different contexts.

What's the difference between "wistful smile" and "resigned smile"?

A "wistful smile" suggests a gentle sadness or longing for something, while a "resigned smile" implies acceptance of something undesirable or unavoidable.