rueful

rue·ful (ro̵̅o̅′fəl)

adjective

causing sorrow or pity; lamentable
1. feeling or showing sorrow or pity; mournful
2. feeling or showing regret, esp. in an abashed way

rue′·fully adverb rue′·ful·ness noun

modif.

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.

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