ruth

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈrüth 

1

: compassion for the misery of another

2

: sorrow for one's own faults : remorse

Ruth

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈrüth 

1

: a Moabite woman who accompanied Naomi to Bethlehem and became the ancestress of David

2

: a short narrative book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scriptures see Bible Table

Synonyms of ruth

Noun (1)

• kindness
• sympathy
• compassion
• heart
• pity
• mercy

Examples of ruth in a Sentence

Noun (1)

listening to your flippant comments about the homeless, I wonder if you have any ruth

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her sensitive and sublime renderings of such states in her fiction and poetry exemplify this ruth. —Literary Hub, 12 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English ruthe, from ruen to rue

Noun (2)

Hebrew Rūth

First Known Use

Noun (1)

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ruth

• luth
• muth
• sleuth
• tooth
• youth
• bluetooth
• forsooth
• sawtooth
• tolbooth
• uncouth
• untruth
• vermouth

Kids Definition

Ruth

noun

ˈrüth 

: a short narrative book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scriptures see bible

Biographical Definition

Ruth

biographical name

ˈrüth 

George Herman 1895–1948 Babe Ruth or the Babe American baseball player

Ruthian

ˈrü-thē-ən 

adjective