Synonyms of ruefully

ruefully

adverb

as in bitterly

with feelings of bitterness or grief

ruefully accepted the fact that the drunk driver would never adequately pay for his crime

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bitterly
• sorrowfully
• sadly
• mournfully
• painfully
• hard
• regretfully
• dolefully
• sharply
• unhappily
• resentfully
• lugubriously
• plaintively
• harshly
• dolorously
• woefully
• grievously
• wailfully
• agonizingly
• wretchedly
• sorely
• inconsolably
• severely
• hardly
• glumly
• despairingly
• dejectedly
• despondently
• dispiritedly
• somberly
• gloomily
• morosely
• sullenly
• cheerlessly
• disconsolately
• forlornly
• darkly
• mirthlessly
• pessimistically
• abjectly
• dourly
• distressfully
• miserably
• poignantly
• dismally
• joylessly
• blackly
• drearily
• acutely
• keenly
• distressingly
• cruelly
• piercingly
• crestfallenly
• downheartedly
• ill
• rancorously
• hurtfully
• low-spiritedly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• happily
• joyfully
• joyously
• gladly
• cheerfully
• blissfully
• gleefully
• cheerily
• delightedly
• merrily
• lightheartedly
• gaily
• calmly
• casually
• blithely
• easily
• indifferently
• lightly
• nonchalantly
• stoically
• impassively
• unconcernedly
• good-naturedly
• dispassionately
• mirthfully
• sunnily
• well
• favorably
• rejoicingly
• blithesomely

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ruefully

Carrie Warick-Smith, at the Association of Community College Trustees, laughed ruefully when she was asked when that journey — and the free money to start it — might actually begin. — Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 30 June 2026

As Chemerinsky ruefully admits, courts have deemed such suits in recent decades to be political questions outside their scope. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026

Nikki Glaser is looking back ruefully on being eliminated first from Dancing With the Stars season 27. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026

Defying the line in the play where Robert Shaw ruefully hopes none of his children will become actors, Ian Shaw is a veteran stage, film and TV performer, mostly taking smaller parts in the United Kingdom. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026

This last comment came from a fellow traveler, ruefully disclosing an act of self-defense many years ago. — Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

Elsa / Getty Images The Atlanta Falcons’ struggles had head coach Raheem Morris ruefully quoting his former boss and friend, Mike Tomlin. — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025

Safdie says as Johnson laughs ruefully. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 12 Nov. 2025

Annoyingly, the line was all McNamara, D'Arcy points out ruefully. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025