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Pronunciation varies by accent · adverb
In a rueful manner; causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow..
He smiled ruefully at me.
He pushed his straw hat back, scratched his head, and laughed ruefully.
Use ruefully when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.
Ruefully means In a rueful manner; causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow..
Common synonyms include sadly, sorrowfully, mournfully, regretfully.
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
He smiled ruefully at me.
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