ruefully

11 6.9

In a way that shows you feel sorry about something you did

adverb
/ˈruːfəli/

: con remordimiento

She ruefully admitted that she had forgotten her friend's birthday.
ruefully noted
said ruefully

When you go through narcissistic relationships, you will always look back ruefully and regretfully on the path you didn't take.

Examples

After seeing the mess he made, John shook his head ruefully.
He smiled ruefully as he remembered his mistakes from the past.
Not that it usually took him an hour to beat me," he added ruefully.

Fiction book (1992)
"Dear friends," he wrote ruefully home, "I've already learned two things here."

Fiction book (1993)
"The hard way," Shefek said ruefully, holding up the injured arm.

Fiction book (1991)
"Like the Pope," Father Wolf ruefully concludes, "even the devil could be Catholic."

Academic text (2010)
Shaking her head ruefully, she told him, "It's astonishing, have you heard her heart?"

Fiction book (1992)
I imagine that many of you are chuckling ruefully in recognition of the syndrome.

Academic text (1994)
I was taking long breaths in order to empty my mind and smiling ruefully at my failure.

Fiction book (1992)
But "I loved Tonks, and I think he guessed," she admits ruefully.

Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

sadly

vsruefully

53 1.0

In an unhappy way because you feel upset

adds a layer of regret or a pitying attitude beyond plain sadness

regrettably

vsruefully

Formal

35 4.6

Saying that something is sad or disappointing

describes personal feeling of regret or pity rather than a statement

regretfully

vsruefully

Formal

13 3.8

Saying something while feeling sorry, often when you tell bad news

is more emotional and can show pity as well as regret

wistfully

vsruefully

10 5.6

In a sad way that shows you wish for something you no longer have

is more about straightforward regret or pity than wistful longing

mournfully

vsruefully

4 4.7

In a sad way that shows grief

includes regret and sometimes pity beyond plain grief

plaintively

vsruefully

4 6.7

In a sad, soft way that sounds like crying

expresses regret and pity but not necessarily an appeal for help

somberly

vsruefully

3 5.5

In a serious and sad way

is more about personal regret and pity rather than solemn tone

sorrowfully

vsruefully

1 4.6

In a sad way that shows a person is sorry

adds a sense of pity as well as regret or sorrow

contritely

vsruefully

1 7.9

In a way that shows you feel sorry and guilty for what you did

expresses regret and pity more generally, not only guilt

dolefully

vsruefully

1 7.2

In a sad way that shows you are unhappy

is closer to regretful feeling and sometimes evokes pity

piteously

vsruefully

Literature

1 7.1

In a sad way that makes people feel sorry

expresses personal regret or sorrow rather than mainly evoking pity

remorsefully

vsruefully

1 5.8

Showing that you feel very sorry for something wrong you did

is similar but focuses on regret and pity rather than guilt

melancholically

vsruefully

7.7

In a sad and thoughtful way

leans more toward regret or pity rather than pure sadness

dolorously

vsruefully

Literature

9.9

In a very sad way

focuses more on regret or pity rather than only distress

Antonyms

cheerfully

34 1.0

In a happy, friendly way that shows you want to help

joyfully

11 1.1

In a very happy way that shows delight

How Regretful

contritely

1 7.9

remorsefully

1 5.8

ruefully

11 6.9

regretfully

Formal

13 3.8

sorrowfully

1 4.6

Surface Forms

ruefully positive

Morphology

ruefully = rueful (transparent) = rue + ful + ly

The adverb is formed by adding the productive adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'rueful', yielding 'in a regretful manner'.

Etymology

Ruefully comes from the old English word rue, which means 'to regret' or 'feel sorry'. So to speak ruefully is to speak in a way that shows you 'regret' something.