1
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
the rueful faces of friends and family who had gathered to pay their last respects
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rueful
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
Solar Power’s acoustic shampoo-commercial pop signified a degree of freedom from the usual rueful, bookish synth-pop grind.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rueful
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
Solar Power’s acoustic shampoo-commercial pop signified a degree of freedom from the usual rueful, bookish synth-pop grind.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rueful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rueful
Adjective
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Joining in the festivities is outgoing French student Chloé (Cécile Matignon, hugely appealing), ostensibly in a relationship but flirting brazenly with Nicolau, who even after a few beers is too mournful to pick up the signals.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
10 July 2025
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The mournful cries of nearby Slow-Lows draw attention from other infected in the area, who plant themselves along the top of a picturesque hill waiting for the Alpha’s signal to attack.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
And so his hand was basically forced to be like, ‘Oh, sorry, my bandmember has serious mental-health problems.—
William Earl,
Variety,
21 July 2025
-
The Hunting Wives begins with a pretty basic soap opera premise: Sophie O’Neil (Brittany Snow) has just moved from Boston—sorry, Cambridge, where the show keeps reminding us Harvard is—to small-town Texas for her husband Graham’s (Evan Jonigkeit) new job.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
My pansies are pitiful, the lavender is languishing and the salvia is suffering.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
7 July 2025
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Something about this one note prompted even this pitiful creature to a risky gesture of mercy.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 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
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
However, for some residents, the monument and its history are nothing to be ashamed of.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
13 July 2025
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Contrary to popular belief, a bed bug infestation can happen to anyone, even people who have spotless homes—so there’s no reason to be ashamed of an infestation.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Phoenix assumes a pathetic and quietly arrogant demeanor as Joe, who speaks in a squeaky, exasperated cadence.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
17 July 2025
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Enter Flores, who was hired shortly after that pathetic performance.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Ak’s heartbroken family are still reeling from her death.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025
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During the ‘54 season, a heartbroken Mack gave his sons, Earle and Roy, permission to sell his beloved team.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
Jaws star Richard Dreyfuss shared a remorseful video message over the weekend, revealing he had been hospitalized with viral bronchitis and would have to cancel his appearance at fan event SharkCon.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
14 July 2025
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The legendary actor and Jaws star issued a remorseful statement on Friday, explaining why fans wouldn't be able to catch him at the annual event held this year on Saturday and Sunday at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo in Tampa.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rueful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rueful. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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