adjective expressing sorrow or regret in a slightly humorous way
The singer's rueful lyrics captured the heartbreak of lost love.
The character's rueful expression conveyed his deep regret and sorrow.
The artist's use of dark colors and somber tones created a rueful atmosphere in the painting.
The poet's rueful tone reflected the melancholy theme of the poem.
The actor's rueful smile hinted at the character's inner turmoil and sadness.
The writer's rueful tone in the article highlighted the consequences of the characters' actions.
The psychologist noticed a rueful expression on the patient's face during the therapy session.
The teacher's rueful sigh indicated disappointment in the students' lack of effort.
The lawyer's rueful admission of guilt helped in negotiating a plea deal for the client.
The doctor's rueful expression revealed the difficulty of delivering bad news to the patient.
The social worker's rueful reflection on the challenges faced by the community guided her in developing new programs.
The engineer's rueful acknowledgment of the mistake led to a quick resolution of the technical issue.
The chef's rueful apology for the undercooked dish showed his commitment to providing high-quality food.
The entrepreneur's rueful acceptance of failure taught valuable lessons for the next business venture.