Meanings
adverbruefully (comparative more ruefully, superlative most ruefully)
comparative more ruefully · superlative most ruefully
- In a rueful manner; causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow.
He smiled ruefully at me.
1 more example
He pushed his straw hat back, scratched his head, and laughed ruefully.
Synonyms: sadly, sorrowfully, mournfully, regretfully, ruthfully
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbIn a rueful manner; causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow.
More synonyms by meaning
adverbin a rueful manner
Similar
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Germanic*hrewwaną
- Proto-West Germanic*hreuwan
- Proto-West Germanic*hreuwu
- Old Englishhrēow
- Middle Englishrewe
- Proto-Indo-European*pleh₁-
- Proto-Indo-European*pl̥h₁nós
- Proto-Germanic*fullaz
- Middle Englishreuful
- Englishrueful
- Englishruefully
Translations
Russian грустно, печально
- грустно (grustno)in a rueful manner; causing, feeling or expressing regret or sorrow
- печально (pečalʹno)in a rueful manner; causing, feeling or expressing regret or sorrow
- уныло (unylo)in a rueful manner; causing, feeling or expressing regret or sorrow
Cite this entry
APA
ruefully. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ruefully
MLA
“ruefully.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ruefully. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ruefully,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ruefully.
Source: ruefully on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.