ruefulness

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "ruefulness" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express feelings of deep regret or sorrow. For example, "After losing the game, I felt a ruefulness wash over me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

As one old utility hand puts it, "There's a sense of ruefulness in the industry".

The Economist

The king's ruefulness was soon converted into rage.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The "Sword of Honour" trilogy, published between 1952 and 1961, is a masterpiece of ruefulness; who but Waugh could have woven the surrender of spiritual hope into the winning of a global fight?

The New Yorker

No film director, novice or veteran, could have done much to scrub off the stagy blend of plaint and ruefulness that coats Glaudini's lines ("You'll always be nothing, nothing"), and we get a scattering of those breathless hushes that, in the theatre, always make me wish I'd ordered a Scotch for the intermission.

The New Yorker

Toward the close, at a truck stop, Pasquale glances at a TV and sees a clip of a radiant Scarlett Johansson parading at a movie première, wearing a dress that he himself ran up at cut price, or perhaps its costlier identical twin; the expression on the tailor's face is, you might say, his final master class, proving the beauty of ruefulness.

The New Yorker

"They don't even like art very much," he declares, with the ruefulness of a natural-born Eeyore.

The New Yorker

With the aid of Aubrey's wife, a practical old broad (played with pitch-perfect ruefulness by Olympia Dukakis), Grant finds a way for personal survival and a love for someone lost to flourish together.

The New Yorker

Eastwood considers recent events with a fierce anger even as he considers the universal span of human experience with an Olympian ruefulness.

The New Yorker

He no longer makes movies, but when he arrived in them, in the late nineteen-fifties, he looked like a boxer fresh from the ring, with a bashed-up ruefulness.

The New Yorker

Yet midway through, ruefulness took over as the retracing of some decisive early steps — ones taken with an exuberant blindness to their import — turned into a sidelong glance at a whole landscape full of roads not taken and of missteps along the way.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

When he came to speak to the Guardian book club, Michael Cunningham recalled with mock-ruefulness that sales of paperback editions of Mrs Dalloway had for a time rivalled those of his own homage to Virginia Woolf's novel.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ruefulness" to convey a sense of gentle sorrow mixed with acceptance, particularly when reflecting on past events or missed opportunities.

Common error

Avoid using "ruefulness" when a stronger term like "grief" or "despair" is more appropriate. "Ruefulness" suggests a lighter, more reflective sorrow.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ruefulness" is as a noun, representing a state or feeling. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It describes the property of being rueful, indicating a quality or characteristic.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ruefulness" is a noun denoting a state of gentle sorrow or regret, often mixed with acceptance. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in various contexts. While commonly found in news and media, as highlighted by Ludwig's examples, it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal writing. When considering related terms, remember that synonyms like "regret" or "disappointment" may carry different nuances, so choose wisely to best reflect your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regret

This alternative is a more direct and common synonym, focusing on feeling sorrow or remorse for something done or not done.

sorrow

This emphasizes a deep sadness or grief, often broader than regret for a specific action.

remorse

This highlights a painful feeling of guilt and responsibility for wrongdoing.

contrition

This implies a sincere repentance and desire for atonement, suggesting a deeper moral dimension.

penitence

This emphasizes the act of expressing regret or sorrow, often through religious practices.

disappointment

This focuses on the feeling of sadness or dissatisfaction caused by the failure of expectations.

melancholy

This suggests a pensive sadness, often without a specific cause or object.

bitterness

This emphasizes a resentful or cynical attitude resulting from disappointment or injustice.

lament

This implies a formal expression of grief or sorrow, often through a song or poem.

mournfulness

This highlights a deep sense of sorrow and sadness, often associated with loss.

FAQs

How can I use "ruefulness" in a sentence?

"Ruefulness" is typically used to describe a feeling or state of mind. For example, "He looked back on his youth with a touch of ruefulness" or "There was a hint of ruefulness in her voice as she spoke of her lost love".

What are some synonyms for "ruefulness"?

Alternatives to "ruefulness" include "regret", "sorrow", "remorse", and "disappointment". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "ruefulness" a positive or negative emotion?

"Ruefulness" is generally considered a negative emotion, as it involves a sense of sadness or regret. However, it is often tinged with a sense of acceptance or resignation, making it less intense than pure sadness or despair.

What is the difference between "ruefulness" and "nostalgia"?

"Ruefulness" emphasizes the sadness or regret associated with something in the past, while nostalgia focuses on the fondness or affection for it. Nostalgia may contain an element of longing, while "ruefulness" acknowledges a sense of loss or missed opportunity.