rueful
/ˈruːfʊl
/ /ˈruːf(ə)l/adjective
Expressing sorrow or regret, especially in a wry or humorous way: she gave a rueful grin...
- Now they have nothing but rueful regrets accompanied by doubts about how much longer this partly ageing side can remain together.
- Kay nodded to Ryan with a rueful grin upon his lips as he slipped out of his seat and moved towards the ladies.
- She gave her a rueful grin and hurried out the front door, nearly slamming into Kyle.
Synonyms
sorrowful, regretful, apologetic, sorry, remorseful, shamefaced, sheepish, hangdog, contrite, repentant, penitent, conscience-stricken, self-reproachful;
woebegone, woeful, sad, melancholy, mournful
rare compunctious
Derivatives
ruefulness
- There is a quality of self-directed ruefulness or self-causation.
- I told her about my coffee date with my neighbour last week, and we analysed with our usual ruefulness the mixture of mellowness and awkwardness that arose.
- Folk and country, romance and ruefulness, innocence and experience are all conjoined in their bewitching vocal harmonies.
Origin
Middle English (also in the sense 'pitiable'): from the noun rue1 + -ful.
- tin whistle
- tiny
- -tion
- tip
- tip-and-run
- tipcat
- tipi
- tipicity
- tip-in
- tip-off
- tip one's hand
- tip one's hat (or cap)
- tip (or drop or turn) the bucket on
- tip (or turn) the scales
- tip (or turn) the scales at
- tip (or turn) the scales (or balance)
- Tippecanoe River
- tipper
- Tipperary
- tipper truck
- tippet
- Tippett, Sir Michael
- Tippex
- Tipp-Ex
- tipping point