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ruthful

[rooth-fuh l]
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adjective
  1. compassionate or sorrowful.
  2. causing or apt to cause sorrow or pity.
  3. feeling remorse or self-reproach.
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Origin of ruthful

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at ruth, -ful
Related formsruth·ful·ly, adverbruth·ful·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for ruthful

abject, affecting, afflicted, base, beggarly, cheerless, comfortless, commiserative, compassionate, contemptible, deplorable, despicable, dismal, distressed, distressing, grievous, heartbreaking, heartrending, inadequate, insignificant

Examples from the Web for ruthful

Historical Examples of ruthful

  • Jones stood close at my elbow, with a face as festive now as it was ruthful not long before.

    Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 67, Number 414, April, 1850

    Various

British Dictionary definitions for ruthful

ruthful

adjective
  1. archaic full of or causing sorrow or pity
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Derived Formsruthfully, adverbruthfulness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012