wry

1 of 2

verb

wried; wrying

transitive verb

: to pull out of or as if out of proper shape : make awry

wry

2 of 2

adjective

wryer ˈrī(-ə)r How to pronounce wry (audio) ; wryest ˈrī-əst How to pronounce wry (audio)
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
3
4
: cleverly and often ironically or grimly humorous
a wry wit
wryly adverb
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
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
But the same dry, wry, demented wit, as well as the pitiless looks at one of the rare species on Earth that walks on two legs and frets about their lattes being too hot, are present and accounted for. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025 This tender, wry and thought-provoking story offers a different perspective on looking for love, regret and the ‘what if’ of it all. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for wry

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English wrien, from Old English wrigian to turn; akin to Middle High German rigel kerchief wound around the head, Greek rhiknos shriveled, Avestan urvisyeiti he turns

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wry was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wry. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

wry

adjective
ˈrī
wryer
ˈrī(-ə)r
; wryest
ˈrī-əst
1
: bent, twisted, or turned usually abnormally to one side
a wry nose
2
a
: expressing irony
a wry smile
b
: cleverly humorous
a wry remark
wryly adverb
wryness noun

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