Definition of "rueful"

rueful

adjective
comparative more rueful, superlative most rueful
1. Causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow, especially in a wry or humorous way.
  Quotations
  Merely, he received it with the rueful indulgence that he would show towards Tom when he came through with one of his solutions for ending world poverty or the arms race.
  1986, John le Carré, A Perfect Spy
2. Inspiring pity or compassion.
3. Bad; woeful; deplorable.