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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rueful
Solar Power’s acoustic shampoo-commercial pop signified a degree of freedom from the usual rueful, bookish synth-pop grind.
—
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
Dumont’s spirit of derision imbues his allegory with outrageous humor and rueful melancholy.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025
Perkins’s follow-up, The Monkey—adapted from a short story by Stephen King—is another tonally wild take on the horror genre: arch, gleefully gory, and played for dark, rueful laughs.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2025
On Wednesday, the designers were rueful about stepping down, but looked back on their long New York fashion adventure with fondness.
—Miles Socha, WWD, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rueful
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
Dumont’s spirit of derision imbues his allegory with outrageous humor and rueful melancholy.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025
Perkins’s follow-up, The Monkey—adapted from a short story by Stephen King—is another tonally wild take on the horror genre: arch, gleefully gory, and played for dark, rueful laughs.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2025
On Wednesday, the designers were rueful about stepping down, but looked back on their long New York fashion adventure with fondness.
—Miles Socha, WWD, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rueful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rueful
Adjective
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Unlike most of his hardcore predecessors, Yates has a knack for mournful melodies, and a voice that may remind some older listeners of Perry Farrell, from Jane’s Addiction.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
11 June 2025
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Now comes their follow-up, with a soundalike title, but quite a different mood—more mournful, more anguished, more serious.—
Taylor Antrim,
Vogue,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Even savvy healthcare consumers – aka patients – will have a hard time reining in healthcare spending in the face of physicians preaching an ethic of better safe than sorry.—
Peter Ubel,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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There will be no combustion engine on board—sorry, V-8 fans—with all the power required to run the control and motion systems for the foils, the keel and rudder, and the onboard computers and instruments generated autonomously while under sail.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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For example, the 1890s saw the Royal Observatory hire women for the first time, who worked for a pitiful wage as 'computers' to examine and refine observational data.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
22 June 2025
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There is nothing deficient, unnatural or pitiful about being single, as we’re often led to believe.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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City leaders should be ashamed for letting this issue get so out of hand.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 June 2025
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Her advice to others facing this journey is to speak openly, accept support, and don’t be ashamed to ask for help.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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So why did a chess engine that came under the pathetic category and only looks one move ahead not just defeat but humiliate ChatGPT?—
David Szondy
June 15,
New Atlas,
15 June 2025
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Not because ownership has had a change of heart, but rather as a way to address their pathetic offense.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Days before Father’s Day, the heartbroken dad of Dominic Ferrell, the 17-year-old stabbed to death in a Brickell condo, is speaking out to thank those supporting his family, to condemn the violent killing and to urge parents to hold their children close.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2025
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He was booked into Metro Jail the night of June 1. 'Saddened and heartbroken': Attack rocks Boulder days after Israeli staffers slain Questions surround security protocols at the event The Saenger Theatre did not immediately respond to requests for comment on June 2.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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But for once, or maybe twice, Hill seemed genuinely remorseful and reflective this week.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2025
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Rose gambled on the game, lied about it for years and never seemed truly remorseful.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rueful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rueful. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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