WordValerueful
expressing regret in a wry way
In more detail
1. (adjective) feeling or showing regret or sorrow about something
2. (adjective) causing sadness or pity in a wry or darkly humorous way
Examples
- 1. She gave a rueful smile when she realized she had forgotten her keys.
- 2. He made a rueful comment about how the project had failed despite all their hard work.
How to use rueful
Rueful combines genuine regret with a self-aware, often wry tone that prevents it from being purely sorrowful. It suggests acknowledging a mistake or misfortune with some ironic detachment or dark humor rather than deep anguish. It appears frequently in literary or reflective contexts and in descriptions of someone's emotional expression.
Common phrases
- rueful smile
- rueful laugh
- rueful expression
- rueful acknowledgment
- rueful tone
Synonyms
regretful · sorrowful · remorseful · penitent · wistful
Opposites
unrepentant · unashamed
Word family
rue (verb) · ruefulness (noun) · ruefully (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use rueful to mean simply sad or sorry without the ironic or wry dimension that distinguishes it from plain regret.
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