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Rueful: meaning, definitions and examples

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rueful

 

[ ˈruːfəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling regret

Rueful describes a feeling of regret or sorrow, often accompanied by a sense of irony or disappointment. It indicates an acknowledgment of a mistake or misfortune, usually with a wry or bittersweet sentiment. A rueful tone can suggest a mixture of sadness and humor. People often use this term when reflecting on past decisions or situations that did not turn out as expected.

Synonyms

contrite, regretful, remorseful, sorrowful, wry

Examples of usage

  • She gave a rueful smile after recalling her blunder.
  • His rueful comments about missed opportunities resonated with the audience.
  • The teacher's rueful acknowledgment of the mistake made the students laugh.
  • After the game, he felt a rueful sense of loss.

Translations

Translations of the word "rueful" in other languages:

🇵🇹 arrependido

🇮🇳 दुखद

🇩🇪 bedauernd

🇮🇩 menyesal

🇺🇦 ощадливий

🇵🇱 żałosny

🇯🇵 後悔した

🇫🇷 regrettable

🇪🇸 lamentable

🇹🇷 üzgün

🇰🇷 후회하는

🇸🇦 آسف

🇨🇿 litující

🇸🇰 ľutujúci

🇨🇳 懊悔的

🇸🇮 obžalujoč

🇮🇸 sorgmæddur

🇰🇿 өкінетін

🇬🇪 სამწუხარო

🇦🇿 peşman

🇲🇽 lamentable

Etymology

The word 'rueful' originates from the Old English word 'rūgan', which means to feel sorrow or regret. Its roots can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic '*rūganan', which also conveyed a sense of lamentation. The term made its way into Middle English as 'ruele', evolving into its current form over time. The prefix 'rue-' relates to the verb 'rue', meaning to feel regret or remorse. This connection further emphasizes the emotional undertone of rueful, illustrating how the word encapsulates a deep, reflective sorrow often tinged with irony or humor. Over centuries, rueful has come to be used in various literary contexts, often to describe characters who reflect on their past with a mix of regret and acceptance.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,801, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.