ruefully

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "ruefully" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adverb that means with regret, sorrow, or remorse. Example sentence: The soldier ruefully looked at his injured leg, knowing he would never walk the same again.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Yes, making the front page was a surprise," she said ruefully.

The Guardian

"That was conveniently ignored as well," he noted ruefully.

The Guardian

Asked about his famous description of Eurosceptics as "bastards", he remarked ruefully: "What I said was unforgivable".

The Guardian

"Everything is in ruins," he says shaking his head ruefully.

The Guardian

Jo Ball, 47, from Sunbury, south-west of London, wearing a straw hat with a union flag tied around the brim, was ruefully watching the screen – now showing an empty court – as her friend packed up their picnic things.

The Guardian - Sport

Everybody laughed ruefully about how this was easier said than done.

The Guardian

He ruefully acknowledged the difficulty of coming up with such an agreement.

The Guardian

He chuckles ruefully and looks up from the table, his eyes calm.

The Guardian - Film

He noticed ruefully that a few days earlier Adria Richards had herself tweeted a stupid penis joke.

The Guardian - Tech

"I remember when My Night With Maud was shown at Cannes in 1969," he says ruefully.

The Guardian - Film

"It was a lovely thing we had in our grasp," Simeone said, ruefully.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ruefully" to add a touch of reflective sadness or regret to a statement or action. It's particularly effective when describing someone acknowledging a mistake or unfortunate situation.

Common error

Avoid using "ruefully" in situations that are genuinely happy or positive. The word inherently carries a sense of regret or sorrow, and its use in a positive context would be jarring and inappropriate.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "ruefully" modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating the manner in which an action is performed or a feeling is experienced. It adds a layer of regret or sorrow to the described action, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ruefully" is a versatile adverb used to express regret, sorrow, or disappointment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, ensure that "ruefully" is used in situations that genuinely warrant a sense of regret and consider alternative adverbs like "with regret" or "sorrowfully" to fine-tune the intended emotion. The word carries a neutral formality and, while used in many contexts, it is more prevalent in formal articles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with regret

Focuses on the feeling of regret associated with an action or statement.

sorrowfully

Emphasizes the sadness and sorrow felt.

regretfully

Directly expresses the feeling of regret.

remorsefully

Highlights a deep sense of guilt and repentance.

sadly

A more general term indicating unhappiness or sorrow.

with a sigh

Captures the act of expressing sorrow through a sigh.

in a disappointed tone

Describes the manner of speaking to convey disappointment.

with a heavy heart

Indicates emotional burden and sadness.

lamenting

Expresses deep sorrow or regret, often verbally.

bitterly

Conveys a sense of resentment and sadness.

FAQs

How to use "ruefully" in a sentence?

Use "ruefully" to describe an action done with regret or sorrow. For example, "He smiled "ruefully" at his mistake".

What can I say instead of "ruefully"?

You can use alternatives like "with regret", "sorrowfully", or "regretfully" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "ruefully" or "ruthlessly"?

"Ruefully" means with regret, while "ruthlessly" means without pity or compassion. They have opposite meanings and should not be confused.

What's the difference between "ruefully" and "sadly"?

"Ruefully" implies a sense of regret or disappointment about something specific, whereas "sadly" simply indicates unhappiness or sorrow in general.