Nostalgia and longing:
* Yearning: This emphasizes the strong desire for something that is absent or unattainable.
* Pensive: This implies a thoughtful and melancholic reflection on the past.
* Melancholy: This focuses on the sadness and longing associated with the past.
* Nostalgic: This specifically refers to a longing for the past.
* Dreamy: This evokes a sense of being lost in thought or a fantasy.
* Sentimental: This emphasizes the emotional connection to the past.
Gentle sadness and longing:
* Regretful: This emphasizes a feeling of remorse or sadness over something lost or done.
* Mournful: This emphasizes a feeling of deep sorrow or grief.
* Poignant: This suggests a deeply moving and evocative feeling of sadness.
* Soft: This emphasizes the gentleness and tenderness of the longing.
Other synonyms:
* Longing: This is a more general term for a strong desire.
* Desiring: This emphasizes the active desire for something.
* Yearning: This is similar to longing but emphasizes the intensity of the desire.
The best synonym for "wistful" will depend on the specific context and the specific emotion you want to convey.