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wry

/raɪ/
/raɪ/
IPA guide

Other forms: wried; wryest; wryer; wrier; wriest

A wry sense of humor is a sarcastic one. You were late for work, stepped into a mud puddle, and you forgot your lunch. If your co-worker asks how your morning is going, you can reply with a wry tone, "Perfectly perfect."

The original use for the adjective wry was to describe something that was bent or twisted, so a sprained ankle could be described as "a wry ankle." Today, the word wry is often used to describe less tangible twists. Wry humor and wry wit both describe a sense of humor that is a little twisted from the norm.

Definitions of wry
  1. adjective
    humorously sarcastic or mocking
    “with a wry Scottish wit”
    synonyms: dry, ironic, ironical
    comedic, humorous, humourous
    full of or characterized by humor
  2. adjective
    bent to one side
    “a wry neck”
    synonyms:
    crooked
    having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘wry'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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