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
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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
After that excruciating miss, Sabalenka dropped her racket on the blue court and smiled a rueful smile.
—
Howard Fendrich, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
On the one hand, this is simply the essence of middle England: rueful, reduced, shabby, and funny-sad in a Larkinesque way.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
The only catharsis or healing to be found in the film comes from the titular apology, more a rueful word of caution than anything else.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Recognizing that gulf is a sad thing for her, and Huston holds Anderson’s intense close-ups with an expression both loving and rueful at once.
40.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rueful
Howard Fendrich, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
On the one hand, this is simply the essence of middle England: rueful, reduced, shabby, and funny-sad in a Larkinesque way.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
The only catharsis or healing to be found in the film comes from the titular apology, more a rueful word of caution than anything else.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Recognizing that gulf is a sad thing for her, and Huston holds Anderson’s intense close-ups with an expression both loving and rueful at once.
40.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rueful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rueful
Adjective
-
In this context, even a simple boast about wielding a Beretta sounded mournful.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Lit only by a halo-like light overhead, Wayans stares blankly at the screen, smoking a cigar — and breaking down in mournful tears.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The team is soliciting toenail donations (sorry, only from Canadians) to study a type of cancer that arises far from our feet–lung cancer.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Ozzy definitely didn’t want people to feel sorry for him.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Browns have scored the second-fewest points in the NFL, ahead of only the pitiful Tennessee Titans.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
-
On the side of the highway, Wilson cuts a pitiful, solitary figure.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
Strength is not something to be ashamed of.—
Brian Mast,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Victims feel embarrassed, ashamed or afraid to admit they were fooled.—
Summer Stephan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Characters can be pathetic, and frank about their Toledo Truth Teller’s bleak prospects.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
23 Sep. 2025
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Jimmy Kimmel is a pathetic hate monger.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The conversation left her heartbroken.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
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Still heartbroken years after the split, Richard wears his anger and pain on his sleeve, but his only goal in life is to keep his daughter safe.—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
During her sentencing, Javice appeared remorseful, according to several reports.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
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While the lyrics seem remorseful, Cardi’s only regrets are for him.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rueful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rueful. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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