rueful

1 of 2

adjective

rue·ful ˈrü-fəl

Synonyms of rueful

: exciting pity or sympathy : pitiable

… rueful squalid poverty … by every wayside …—John Morley

: mournful, regretful

… troubled her with a rueful disquiet.—William Thackeray

ruefully

ˈrü-fə-lē

adverb

ruefulness noun

ruefulness

2 of 2

noun

rue·ful·ness

-fəlnə̇s

plural -es

: the quality or state of being rueful

Examples of rueful in a Sentence

Adjective He gave me a rueful smile and apologized. the rueful faces of friends and family who had gathered to pay their last respects

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Adjective

Piker’s tone was one of rueful concern, not unlike the pose adopted by anti-Semites throughout history. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 The gently rueful Rosenbaums spring from Jarrell’s transforming affection for his friends. — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 The conversation is raucous, self-aware and unexpectedly rueful. — Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026 Kincaid documented the wry, rueful conditions of colonialism and made a request of one of Britain’s most famous fictional characters. — Literary Hub, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rueful

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English rewful "expressing sorrow, grieving, pitiable, sad," from rewe "pity, sorrow, rue entry 2" + -ful -ful entry 1

Noun

Middle English rewfulnes, from rewful rueful + -nes -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1574, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of rueful was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

rue family

rueful

ruefully

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rueful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rueful. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rueful

adjective

rue·ful ˈrü-fəl

: exciting pity or sympathy

: mournful sense 1, regretful

ruefully

-fə-lē

adverb

rueful

adjective

noun

Synonyms of rueful

Examples of rueful in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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