1
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
the rueful faces of friends and family who had gathered to pay their last respects
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sorry
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done
a rueful youth who had come to ask for forgiveness for online bullying
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3
as in pitiful
deserving of one's pity
the rueful, desperate poverty of people in parts of the Third World
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rueful
The only catharsis or healing to be found in the film comes from the titular apology, more a rueful word of caution than anything else.
—
Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Recognizing that gulf is a sad thing for her, and Huston holds Anderson’s intense close-ups with an expression both loving and rueful at once.
40.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Yet as the film wends its way through the narrow streets, harbors and glittering waters of Spain’s salty Galician coastline, immersing itself in chaotic gatherings of family and community, the title’s spiritual aspect takes on a rueful irony.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2025
The designer laughed, shook her head with a little rueful humor.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rueful
Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Recognizing that gulf is a sad thing for her, and Huston holds Anderson’s intense close-ups with an expression both loving and rueful at once.
40.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Yet as the film wends its way through the narrow streets, harbors and glittering waters of Spain’s salty Galician coastline, immersing itself in chaotic gatherings of family and community, the title’s spiritual aspect takes on a rueful irony.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2025
The designer laughed, shook her head with a little rueful humor.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rueful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rueful
Adjective
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Her powerhouse voice, singing intensely sad words, was piercing, clarion, mournful, and hopeful, all at once.—
Shaad D’Souza,
Pitchfork,
18 Sep. 2025
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The backstory for the maze follows the mournful tale of Mary Worth after the tragic death of her family.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Although fossil fieldwork is never as simple as removing loose sediment with a paintbrush (sorry, Steven Spielberg), Arctic fieldwork is in a league of its own.—
Kate Wong,
Scientific American,
16 Sep. 2025
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Now 1-1 on the season, Maye will certainly face less scrutiny as the Patriots prepare for Aaron Rodgers (Maye’s favorite quarterback growing up – sorry Patriots fans) and the Steelers to come to Gillette Stadium next week.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The pitiful screaming of surviving family members can be heard.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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As del Toro sees it, Frankenstein’s pitiful creation has been cursed with life, cannot be killed (even bullets don’t stop him) and must face the same existential crisis that confronts us all.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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Losing to Philadelphia is nothing to be ashamed of, but Kansas City simply doesn't usually allow losses to pile on top of each other.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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Also, Florida State and Oklahoma should be ashamed of themselves for scheduling Kent State.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Jimmy Kimmel is a pathetic hate monger.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
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The festival was washed out by weather, promised luxury accommodations and food were nowhere to be found (except for some pathetic cheese sandwiches), and guests only stayed one night of what was supposed to be a two-week experience.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Her family is heartbroken and devastated by this tragic loss.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
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And utterly heartbroken for Charlie’s young family.—
Amanda Castro
Gabe Whisnant
Anna Commander
Toby Meyjes
Shane Croucher
John Feng
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
All my remorseful online purchases happened during the pandemic.—
Justin Caffier,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
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Lucky for the Eagles, a remorseful Carter won't receive a suspension for his spit.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rueful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rueful. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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