rueful

adjective

rue·​ful ˈrü-fəl How to pronounce rueful (audio)
Synonyms of rueful
1
: exciting pity or sympathy : pitiable
… rueful squalid poverty … by every wayside …—John Morley
2
: mournful, regretful
… troubled her with a rueful disquiet.—William Thackeray
ruefully
ˈrü-fə-lē How to pronounce rueful (audio)
adverb
ruefulness noun

Synonyms of rueful

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Examples of rueful in a Sentence

He gave me a rueful smile and apologized. the rueful faces of friends and family who had gathered to pay their last respects
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The gently rueful Rosenbaums spring from Jarrell’s transforming affection for his friends. — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 The conversation is raucous, self-aware and unexpectedly rueful. — Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026 Kincaid documented the wry, rueful conditions of colonialism and made a request of one of Britain’s most famous fictional characters. — Literary Hub, 27 July 2026 To root for #TeamBlack is to know that nothing good can come from impulse, and rueful laughter rippled across the lawn as Jace, eager to fight in his mother’s stead, locks Rhaenyra in her chambers to prevent her from risking her life in battle. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rueful

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rueful was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

rue family
rueful
ruefully
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Cite this Entry

“Rueful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rueful. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rueful

adjective
rue·​ful ˈrü-fəl How to pronounce rueful (audio)
1
: exciting pity or sympathy
2
: mournful sense 1, regretful
ruefully
-fə-lē How to pronounce rueful (audio)
adverb

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Nglish: Translation of rueful for Spanish Speakers

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