rueful
/ˈɹuːfl̩/ adjective
Forms ruefull
- adjective Causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow, especially in a wry or humorous way.
- adjective Inspiring pity or compassion.
- adjective Bad; woeful; deplorable.
Synonyms
deplorable pitiful sorry atrabiliary atrabilious depressing distressing grievous heartbreaking heartrending miserable lamentable lachrymable mournful regrettable sad saddening sorrowful tragic unhappy contrite remorseful ruthful
Etymology
From Middle English ruful, rewful. By surface analysis, rue + -ful.
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “rueful”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details