ruefulness

R1U1E1F4U1L1N1E1S1S1

noun

The property of being rueful.

Similar
sorrowregretrue
OriginEnglish rueful ← Middle English reuful ← Proto-Germanic *fullaz →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounruefulness (usually uncountable, plural ruefulnesses)

plural ruefulnesses

  1. uncountableusuallyThe property of being rueful.

    This was the second time she had mentioned money, but now there was no trace of ruefulness in her voice, she spoke as if merely stating a fact.

    2009, Sarah Waters, The Little Stranger, Virago Press (2018), page 46

Synonyms & antonyms

nounsadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment

Similar
sorrowregretrue
Broader
sadnessunhappiness
Also see
regretregretfulnessruesorrow

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Germanic*hrewwaną
  2. Proto-West Germanic*hreuwan
  3. Proto-West Germanic*hreuwu
  4. Old Englishhrēow
  5. Middle Englishrewe
  6. Proto-Indo-European*pleh₁-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*pl̥h₁nós
  8. Proto-Germanic*fullaz
  9. Middle Englishreuful
  10. Englishrueful
  11. Englishruefulness

From rueful + -ness.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

ruefulness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ruefulness

MLA

“ruefulness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ruefulness. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ruefulness,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ruefulness.

Source: ruefulness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.