The meaning of RUEFUL is exciting pity or sympathy : pitiable. How to use rueful in a sentence.

RUEFUL definition: 1. feeling sorry and wishing that something had not happened: 2. feeling sorry and wishing that…. Learn more.

If someone is rueful, they feel or express regret or sorrow in a quiet and gentle way.

The adjective rueful sincerely expresses regret, but it manages to do it with a hint of humor. Rueful shows up a lot in descriptions of remorseful grins or apologetic smiles. If you're sorry …

feeling or showing that you are sad or sorry. Want to learn more? Definition of rueful adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, …

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective rueful, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Causing, feeling, or expressing sorrow or regret: "He gave the young officer the rueful look of a father exasperated with his misbehaving son" (Khaled Hosseini).

rueful meaning: showing slight sadness about something but not in a serious way: . Learn more.

rueful: Causing, feeling, or expressing sorrow or regret.

causing sorrow or pity; pitiable; deplorable: a rueful plight. feeling, showing, or expressing sorrow or pity; mournful; doleful: the rueful look on her face. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, …