'Rueful' definitions:
Definition of 'rueful'
From: WordNet
adjective
Feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses [syn: contrite, remorseful, rueful, ruthful]
Definition of 'Rueful'
From: GCIDE
- Rueful \Rue"ful\ (r[udd]"f[.u]l), a.
- 1. Causing one to rue or lament; woeful; mournful; sorrowful. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Expressing sorrow. "Rueful faces." --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- Two rueful figures, with long black cloaks. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] -- {Rue"ful*ly}, adv. -- {Rue"ful*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'rueful'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- addicted,
- affecting,
- afflictive,
- aggrieved,
- anguished,
- ashamed,
- bitter,
- bleak,
- careworn,
- cheerless,
- comfortless,
- conscience-smitten,
- conscience-stricken,
- deplorable,
- depressed,
- depressing,
- depressive,
- despairing,
- despondent,
- discomforting,
- dismal,
- dismaying,
- distressful,
- distressing,
- doleful,
- dolorific,
- dolorogenic,
- dolorous,
- dreary,
- dumb with grief,
- full of remorse,
- grief-stricken,
- griefful,
- grieved,
- grievous,
- hopeless,
- in grief,
- joyless,
- lamentable,
- lugubrious,
- miserable,
- mournful,
- moving,
- oppressed,
- painful,
- pathetic,
- piteous,
- pitiable,
- pitiful,
- plaintive,
- plangent,
- plunged in grief,
- poignant,
- poor,
- regretful,
- regrettable,
- remorseful,
- repining,
- ruthful,
- sad,
- saddening,
- self-accusing,
- self-condemning,
- self-convicting,
- self-debasing,
- self-flagellating,
- self-humiliating,
- self-punishing,
- self-reproaching,
- shamefaced,
- shamefast,
- shameful,
- sharp,
- sore,
- sorrowed,
- sorrowful,
- sorrowing,
- sorry,
- tearful,
- touching,
- uncomfortable,
- unhappy about,
- wistful,
- woebegone,
- woeful,
- wretched