rueful (adj.)
- addicted
- affecting
- afflictive
- anguished
- ashamed
- bitter
- bleak
- careworn
- cheerless
- comfortless
- conscience-smitten
- deplorable
- depressed
- depressing
- depressive
- despairing
- despondent
- dismal
- dismaying
- distressful
- distressing
- doleful
- dolorous
- dreary
- grief-stricken
- grievous
- hopeless
- joyless
- lamentable
- lugubrious
- miserable
- mournful
- moving
- oppressed
- painful
- pathetic
- piteous
- pitiable
- pitiful
- plaintive
- plangent
- poignant
- poor
- regretful
- regrettable
- remorseful
- ruthful
- sad
- shamefaced
- shameful
- sharp
- sore
- sorrowful
- sorrowing
- sorry
- tearful
- touching
- uncomfortable
- wistful
- woebegone
- woeful
- wretched
Sweet Mercy! to the gates of heaven
This minstrel lead, his sins forgiven;
The rueful conflict, the heart riven
With vain endeavour,
And memory of Earth's bitter leaven
Effaced forever.
