Rueful
adjective
Showing sorrow or regret, often in a slightly humorous way.
He gave me a rueful smile and apologized for his mistake.
adjective
Showing sorrow or regret, often in a slightly humorous way.
He gave me a rueful smile and apologized for his mistake.
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Slightly 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.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle 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.
Pro Tip 3/3Facial 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.
Pro Tip 1/3Slightly 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.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle 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.
Pro Tip 3/3Facial 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.
Pro Tip 1/3Slightly 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.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle 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.
Pro Tip 3/3Facial 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.
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Quote examples
Robert Harris
British Novelist
In a way I'm almost more rueful about the notion of having a non-ideological Labour party than I am about the personality of Tony Blair.
Quote examples
Robert Harris
British Novelist
In a way I'm almost more rueful about the notion of having a non-ideological Labour party than I am about the personality of Tony Blair.
Example 1 of 1
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