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
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
Such was the magnitude of that hold that Djokovic celebrated first with a wry smile before turning to the crowd and pumping his fist.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
There’s a wry grace to this misadventure-palooza, forged in the key of melancholic mid-career Woody Allen but with variations on those themes which achieve their own pointedly funny clarity, especially where Ubeimar Rios’ all-time portrayal of a sad sack is concerned.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The team posted on social media a short clip of McDaniel sitting at a table and introducing himself as the offensive coordinator of the Chargers followed by a wry smile emoji.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wry
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Adjective
In a wry comment on the hazards of fame, Carpenter and fans are seen in the last seconds of the ad eating the remains of the potato-chip paramour.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
Such was the magnitude of that hold that Djokovic celebrated first with a wry smile before turning to the crowd and pumping his fist.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
There’s a wry grace to this misadventure-palooza, forged in the key of melancholic mid-career Woody Allen but with variations on those themes which achieve their own pointedly funny clarity, especially where Ubeimar Rios’ all-time portrayal of a sad sack is concerned.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The team posted on social media a short clip of McDaniel sitting at a table and introducing himself as the offensive coordinator of the Chargers followed by a wry smile emoji.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wry
Cite this Entry
“Wry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wry. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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