When describing someone who's looking up to someone in a sad or wistful manner, you might consider using words and phrases such as:
- Admiring – suggests a sense of respect tinged with sorrow.
- Longing – implies a deep desire for connection or acknowledgment.
- Yearning – conveys an intense emotional need that is unfulfilled.
- Hopeful – suggests a glimmer of hope despite the sadness.
- Mournful – indicates deep sadness or regret in their admiration.
- Nostalgic – evokes a sense of longing for the past or what might have been.
- Despondent – highlights feelings of hopelessness while still looking up.
- Envious – hints at a sense of jealousy that comes with admiration.
- Crushed – conveys feeling overwhelmed or defeated by the situation.
- Solemn – reflects seriousness and deep thought in their gaze.
- Pensive – suggests deep, reflective sadness.
- Disheartened – indicates a loss of hope in reaching the admired person.
- Reticent – describes someone who is quietly looking up, perhaps feeling inadequate.
- Somber – reflects a serious mood, shadowing the admiration.
- Wistful – implies a gentle, bittersweet yearning.
Using combinations of these words can also help convey the complexity of their emotions. For example, "mournfully admiring" or "wistfully longing."