Difference between Wistful and Pensive

WISTFUL vs PENSIVE: ADJECTIVE

Persistently or morbidly thoughtful
Engaged in deep and serious thought.
Showing or expressing deep, often melancholy thought.
Thoughtful, sober, or sad; employed in serious reflection; given to, or favorable to, earnest or melancholy musing.
Expressing or suggesting thoughtfulness with sadness.
Having the appearance of deep, often melancholic, thinking.
Looking thoughtful, especially from sadness.
Deeply or seriously thoughtful
Showing pensive sadness

Synonyms Meditative, reflective, sober.
Expressing thoughtfulness with sadness; betokening or conducive to thoughtful or earnest musing.
Engaged in serious thought or reflection; given to earnest musing: often implying some degree of anxiety, depression, or gloom; thoughtful and somewhat melancholy.

Wry, Introspective, Morose, Plaintive, Elegiac, Poignant, Dreamy, Rueful, Mournful, Nostalgic, Melancholic, Melancholy, Sad, Yearning, Pensive

Introspective, Melancholy, Melancholic, Phlegmatic, Pondering, Sad, Musing, Reflective, Broody, Thoughtful, Meditative, Ruminative, Brooding, Contemplative, Wistful

Wry, Introspective, Morose, Plaintive, Elegiac, Poignant, Dreamy, Rueful, Mournful, Nostalgic, Melancholic, Melancholy, Sad, Yearning, Pensive

Introspective, Melancholy, Melancholic, Phlegmatic, Pondering, Sad, Musing, Reflective, Broody, Thoughtful, Meditative, Ruminative, Brooding, Contemplative, Wistful

She allowed herself a small wistful smile and sighed affectionately.
Creepy, sweet and wistful all at the same time.
Elan explained, the wistful look back in full force.
Madeline spoke in soft and wistful tones, tearfully smiling.
She looks down at his ring, somewhat wistful.
With those enormous dead eyes and wistful stare?
The wistful rock band Film School also plays.
On the contrary: just like his wistful realities.
We might feel a little awkward or wistful.
Jolly wistful painting animal crossing: new horizons is a legitimate and forged Wistful painting in Animal Crossing is an editor at Rant!

Pensive Face, but with a sadder, more hurt expression.
Image: Pensive young woman holding smart phone at workplace.
Proctor, is engaged in pensive selfreflection regarding his life.
Len nodded, his own expression calmer, more pensive.
Now Tom could see his face: pensive, withdrawn.
Fr: My leasure serves me pensive daughter now.
But why so pensive, my good master Fox?
The Governor General found him pensive and sad.
The audience will long remember that pensive night.
It can also refer to any pensive or reflective poem that is nostalgic or melancholy, or to a short, pensive musical composition.