Find Antonyms

rueful Antonyms

Opposite of rueful

Pinning down the opposite of rueful requires matching its exact sense, so the antonyms and opposite words below are paired with a clear adjective definition and ranked by contrast strength.
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• adjective (Context 1)

Expressing sorrow or regret, especially in a wry, self-deprecating, or humorous way.

Usage Example

"He gave a unrepentant smile after realizing he had locked his keys inside the car."

Strongest
unrepentant
impenitent
remorseless
Strong
unapologetic
cheerful
glad

Similar words to rueful

Words similar to rueful shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:

regretful
remorseful
sorrowful
contrite
apologetic
repentant
penitent
wistful
See all synonyms of rueful

• Nearby Words

rudimentarily
rudimentary
rue
rueful
ruefully
ruffed
ruffian

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Rueful. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/rueful
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