
Rueful
Slightly Humorous
Rueful can express regret with a touch of irony or wry amusement, showing one can also see humor in their own faults.

His rueful chuckle after recounting the story made us all smile.
Subtle Regret
It's used for mild regrets, not deep sorrow or guilt; appropriate for trivial mistakes or minor offenses.

She was rueful for forgetting to bring snacks to the party.
Facial Expressions
Often associated with specific expressions, like a rueful smile, indicating an acknowledgment of a misstep.

He gave a rueful grin when asked about the missing cookies.
Compare with
ApologeticAshamedContriteGuiltyPenitentRegretfulRemorsefulSorry
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension