Only one letter separates the two words, but "wishful" is having hope for something, and wistful is having sadness or melancholy about something. "Wist" isn't even a word that's used anymore, but you can still be wistful. People who appear wistful often show a longing for something or a look of serious reflection.

What's meaning of wistful?

1 : full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy also : inspiring such yearning a wistful memoir. 2 : musingly sad : pensive a wistful glance.

What type of word is wistful?

full of yearning or longing. sad and thoughtful.