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rueful
[ roo-fuhl ]
/ ˈru fəl /
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adjective
causing sorrow or pity; pitiable; deplorable: a rueful plight.
feeling, showing, or expressing sorrow, repentance, or regret: the rueful look on her face.
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Origin of rueful
OTHER WORDS FROM rueful
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use rueful in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for rueful
rueful
/ (ˈruːfʊl) /
adjective
feeling or expressing sorrow or repentancea rueful face
inspiring sorrow or pity
Derived forms of rueful
ruefully, adverbruefulness, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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