What does "ruth" mean?
Sorrow for the misery of another; pity, compassion; mercy.
Ruth
/ɹuːθ/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Sorrow for the misery of another; pity, compassion; mercy.
- Grammar: ruth is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: pity, attrition, benevolence, benevolence.
- Useful contrasts: coldness, cruelty, harshness.
- Usage evidence: When Albert fools around, Ruth rests. When Ruth fools around, Albert rests.
How to use "ruth"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ruth" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ruth" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ruth" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ruth" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ruth" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "pity" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ruth", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Sorrow for the misery of another; pity, compassion; mercy. archaic, countable, uncountable
"It was my fortune to be at Rome, upon a day that one Catena, a notorious high-way theefe, was executed: at his strangling no man of the companie seemed to be mooved to any ruth[…]."
- 2 a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others wordnet
- 3 Repentance; regret; remorse. archaic, countable, uncountable
"1896, A. E. Housman, A Shropshire Lad, XLIV, 2005, The Works of A. E. Housman [1994, The Collected Poems of A. E. Housman], page 61, Now to your grave shall friend and stranger With ruth and some with envy come […]."
- 4 Sorrow; misery; distress. countable, obsolete, uncountable
- 5 Something which causes regret or sorrow; a pitiful sight. countable, obsolete, uncountable
Proper Noun
- 1 A book of the Old Testament and the Hebrew Tanakh.
- 2 The resident of Moab around whom the text centers.
"And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."
- 3 A female given name from Hebrew.
"Her face hardened. "I despise pity." "In spite of your name? Ruth is your name, isn't it? Piquant that. Ruth the ruthless.""
- 4 A census-designated place in White Pine County, Nevada, United States.
- 5 A census-designated place in Trinity County, California, United States.
Antonyms
Example
"When Albert fools around, Ruth rests. When Ruth fools around, Albert rests."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ruth"?
Common synonyms include: pity, attrition, benevolence, benevolence, clemency, commiseration.
How do you use "ruth" in a sentence?
When Albert fools around, Ruth rests. When Ruth fools around, Albert rests.
How do you pronounce "ruth"?
Pronounced /ɹuːθ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English reuþe, ruthe, reuthe, rewthe, reowthe, corresponding to rue + -th (abstract nominal suffix), perhaps after early Scandinavian (compare Old Norse hrygð, hryggð (“ruth, sorrow”)).
Etymology 2
From Ruth the Moabite, Hebrew רות, of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "companion". Also associated with the English noun ruth (“compassion”) by Puritans.