rueful Definition
feeling or showing sorrow or regret, especially in a wry or humorous way.
Using rueful: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "rueful" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He gave a rueful smile and admitted his mistake.
Example
She looked at him with a rueful expression.
Example
I felt a little rueful about not going to the party.
rueful Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for rueful
Antonyms for rueful
- unrepentant
- unapologetic
Phrases with rueful
Example
He gave a rueful grin and said he should have listened to her advice.
Example
With a rueful admission, he confessed that he had lied to his friend.
Example
She gave him a rueful look and said she wished she had done things differently.
Summary: rueful in Brief
The term 'rueful' [ˈruː.fəl] describes a feeling or expression of sorrow or regret, often in a wry or humorous way. It is used to express remorse for a mistake or wrongdoing, as in 'He gave a rueful smile and admitted his mistake.' 'Rueful' can also be used to describe a facial expression, such as a 'rueful look,' which conveys a sense of sadness or regret.