rueful Definition
rue·ful (ro̵̅o̅′fəl)
adjective
- causing sorrow or pity; lamentable
- feeling or showing sorrow or pity; mournful
- feeling or showing regret, esp. in an abashed way
rueful Related Forms
rue′·fully adverb
rue′·ful·ness noun
rueful Synonyms
rueful
modif.
Penitent
contrite, remorseful, regretful; see ashamed, sorry 1.Pitiful
pathetic, sorrowful, despondent; see pitiful 1, sad 2.
rueful Usage Examples
Modifies a noun
- grin: Daniel just looked at him with a rueful grin.
- smile: He gazed down into the river water, with what looked like a fond, rueful smile.
- comment: To round off the weekend's matches, John Cannon sends a rueful comment from a Sussex viewpoint.
- face: I only hope you gents ain't too stony " And he touched his pockets with a rueful face.
- look: I owned up the following morning - amid some laughter and more rueful looks.
- verdict: That was the rueful verdict of no less a person than Fianna Fa il toiseach Bertie Ahern in the aftermath of the count.
Modifying Another Word
- slightly: But still he lost Published: 10 November 2005 He reacted with a brave, slightly rueful smile.
- rather: From one respondent there came a rather rueful comments " not usually the doctor's role ( sadly!
- little: However, I think those pouring scorn on this notion will very soon come to feel a little rueful.
Used with adjective complement
look: Visitors ' manager, Neville Powell was left looking very rueful after such a poor display from his underperforming team.
Browse dictionary entries near rueful
- ‹ rue anemone
- ‹ rue
- ‹ Rudolph
- ‹ Rudolf I
- ‹ Rudolf
- ‹ Rudofsky, Bernard
- ‹ rudiments
- ‹ rudimentary
- ‹ rudiment
- ‹ rudery
- Ruether, Rosemary Radford ›
- rufescent ›
- ruff ›
- ruffed grouse ›
- ruffian ›
- ruffle ›
- rufiyaa ›
- rufous ›
- Rufus ›
- rug ›

