RUE Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

rue 1 of 2

noun

Definition of rue

as in regret

a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing a soul filled with pain and rue

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rue

2 of 2

verb

ˈrü

as in to regret

to feel sorry or dissatisfied about I rue the day I agreed to this stupid plan

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of rue

Noun

Native Son Hunter Brown Got Away From Tigers The Tigers rue that Brown got away. — John Perrotto, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 Just like Hamlet, one who bathes in melancholia, Juicy wears his rue with a difference. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025

Verb

The home fans were ruing the injuries to David Hancko and Jose Maria Gimenez, and a suspension for Marc Pubill, which saw Simeone turn to him for such a huge game. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2026 The Cubs will rue the extra-inning opportunities more than any other on Saturday. — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rue

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rue

Noun

The weird, vaguely threatening statement doesn’t lay the groundwork for a productive night, so naturally the vibes are just all off as the boys hang, so much so that Christian regrets planning it altogether.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 July 2026
But the filmmaker proves more interested in interrogating that ethos than recreating it, and few horror mythologies are better suited to exploring betrayal and regret than one built around the refusal to let the dead remain dead.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026

Definition of regret

Noun

Yet an outstanding cast, scripts that are perceptive about grief and remorse, and Hennie’s impressionistic directing more than make up for it.

— Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
Metz’s attorneys could not be reached for comment on the sentencing, but during the hearing, Jones emphasized that Metz has taken responsibility for his negligence and has felt remorse every day since the shooting.

— Katie Langford, Denver Post, 7 July 2026

Definition of remorse

Noun

The instinct in every one of these cases is to freak out, to fire off denials and go quiet, and that instinct is almost always the wrong one, since silence reads as guilt and panic reads as relevance.

— Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Burkhart chose not to testify in the guilt-innocence trial phase or at the punishment hearing.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026

Definition of guilt

Noun

With wonder and with great shame the yodel is an orphaned sound, a sound that turns the serenade toward an addressee that is destined to never hear it.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Altitude is going to be a leveller, just a shame there are no West Bromwich Albion players in the England squad.

— Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of shame

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rudiments

rue

rued

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“Rue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rue. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of rue

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