rueful
/ˈɹuːfl̩/
adj 3
Collocations
3VERB + RUEFUL
smile, wrote
RUEFUL + NOUN
indulgence, letter, mary
PREP.
about, in, with
Definitions
adj
1
Causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow, especially in a wry or humorous way.
Merely, he received it with the rueful indulgence that he would show towards Tom when he came through with one of his solutions for ending world poverty or the arms race.
2
Inspiring pity or compassion.
3
Bad; woeful; deplorable.
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
501
Merely, he received it with the rueful indulgence that he would show towards Tom when he came through with one of his solutions for ending world poverty or the arms race.
Wiktionary02
His smile is rueful.
Tatoeba · #346456403
Tom's house is in a rueful state.
Tatoeba · #1236064704
Tom wrote a rueful letter to Mary from prison.
Tatoeba · #1236064905
I'm not rueful about it.
Tatoeba · #12360653Usage Notes
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