rueful
rue·ful
adjective \ˈrü-fəl\Definition of RUEFUL
1
: exciting pity or sympathy : pitiable <rueful squalid poverty … by every wayside — John Morley>
2
— rue·ful·ly \-fə-lē\ adverb
— rue·ful·ness noun
Examples of RUEFUL
- He gave me a rueful smile and apologized.
- <the rueful faces of friends and family who had gathered to pay their last respects>
First Known Use of RUEFUL
13th century
Related to RUEFUL
- Synonyms
- aching, agonized, anguished, bemoaning, bewailing, bitter, deploring, doleful, dolesome, dolorous, funeral, grieving, heartbroken, lamentable, lugubrious, plaintive, plangent, regretful, mournful, sorrowful, sorry, wailing, weeping, woeful
- Antonyms
- impenitent, remorseless, unapologetic, unrepentant
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All Words Near: rueful
Previous Word in the Dictionary: rue family
All Words Near: rueful
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