1
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
the rueful faces of friends and family who had gathered to pay their last respects
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sorry
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done
a rueful youth who had come to ask for forgiveness for online bullying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pitiful
deserving of one's pity
the rueful, desperate poverty of people in parts of the Third World
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rueful
Her lips pressed in a rueful grin.
—
Richard Greenberg,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Through Eisenhower’s ruminations, Hellesen’s script notably engages with passages that land with rueful resonance to today’s ears, drawing applause from Sunday evening’s opening night crowd.
—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
20 Jan. 2026
Fritz, who has come as close to winning a major in the past two years as anyone else in the chasing pack, gave that rueful smile at the ATP Tour Finals, the season-ending tournament for the best eight men’s players in the world.
—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
19 Jan. 2026
But most of Guy’s stories are told with the rueful smile of a man who knows his days of being underappreciated and underpaid are behind him.
—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rueful
Richard Greenberg,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Through Eisenhower’s ruminations, Hellesen’s script notably engages with passages that land with rueful resonance to today’s ears, drawing applause from Sunday evening’s opening night crowd.
—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
20 Jan. 2026
Fritz, who has come as close to winning a major in the past two years as anyone else in the chasing pack, gave that rueful smile at the ATP Tour Finals, the season-ending tournament for the best eight men’s players in the world.
—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
19 Jan. 2026
But most of Guy’s stories are told with the rueful smile of a man who knows his days of being underappreciated and underpaid are behind him.
—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rueful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rueful
Adjective
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The years have only intensified Zimmerman’s mournful, hushed vocal performance, and Dream Me a Dream often plays out like a bedtime story spun by a beloved elder, accompanied by soft strings, shakers, and even a synth or two.
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The drama can stir up nostalgia and mournful emotions, and feels personal to many.
Adjective
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Much has been made of this World Cup’s mandatory commercial—sorry, hydration—breaks, which have paused action, even during indoor or rain-soaked matches.
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Back home that night, dues paid to god, the women slathered their faces with turmeric cream and went to bed, bitter-smelling, sorry for themselves on that night as every night.
Adjective
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Completing the hat trick in pitiful style, Taking on the World was shot on a shoestring budget, helmed by the man behind Highlander III, and forced to rely on stock footage of real-life footballers.
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Given the national team’s pitiful demise at the Oval, with New Zealand completing victory on the fifth morning, Ben Stokes’ revival in absentia feels like the only consolation from a miserable week.
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
Adjective
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Both candidates should be ashamed of themselves for intentionally ignoring a group of American citizens and voters.
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Crowdpleasers are nothing to be ashamed of.
Adjective
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Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.
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After these first three majors — and after a pathetic showing this week at Shinnecock — there's no reason to bet against it.
Adjective
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The courtroom was packed with heartbroken supporters wanting justice for Jor'Dynn as each woman stood silent in front of the judge.
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There is nothing more evocative of a pure Love Island experience than a heartbroken rage split in costume.
Adjective
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Outside the courtroom, attorney Eric Clayman told reporters that Watson is remorseful and didn’t want to hurt Ibrahim.
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Lil Wayne is feeling remorseful after leaving fans in Maine high and dry.
Cite this Entry
“Rueful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rueful. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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