wried; wrying
: to pull out of or as if out of proper shape : make awry
1
: bent, twisted, or turned usually abnormally to one side
a wry nose
2
: made by a deliberate distortion of the facial muscles often to express irony or mockery
a wry smile
4
: cleverly and often ironically or grimly humorous
a wry wit
wryness
noun
Examples of wry in a Sentence
Adjective
His books are noted for their wry humor.
When I asked her how she felt after winning the race, she gave me a wry smile and said, “Pretty tired.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
No one is better built than Leavy, a crafty veteran sportswriter, for between-innings repartee, wry asides, and tossed-off ideas for improving her beloved sport—and maybe even keeping its ever-looming obsolescence at bay for another decade or three.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Instead Kidman was wry, rueful, unsure of herself.
—Wendell Steavenson, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
Fortunately, the film found an adoring audience that connected with its depiction of bisexuality, its wry post-9/11 humor, and its themes of female friendship.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wry
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
In a witty and wry artisanal classic, an American team aims to claim the top prize at the Mondial du Fromage cheesemongering competition in France.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
No one is better built than Leavy, a crafty veteran sportswriter, for between-innings repartee, wry asides, and tossed-off ideas for improving her beloved sport—and maybe even keeping its ever-looming obsolescence at bay for another decade or three.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Instead Kidman was wry, rueful, unsure of herself.
—Wendell Steavenson, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
Fortunately, the film found an adoring audience that connected with its depiction of bisexuality, its wry post-9/11 humor, and its themes of female friendship.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wry
Cite this Entry
“Wry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wry. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share