as in sarcastic
marked by the use of clever and often dark humor
The writer had a wry wit that was something of an acquired taste.
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Recent Examples of wry
This is distinct from writing that is humorous, the stuff that will give you a wry smile at best.
—
John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Nobel Prize–winning economist Milton Friedman, famous for his wry sense of humor, once wrote a book titled There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
There is awe, and sadness, and regret, and wry humor.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
The queen had a wry sense of humor and enjoyed Angela’s wit and her habit of playfully teasing other courtiers.
—Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wry
John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Nobel Prize–winning economist Milton Friedman, famous for his wry sense of humor, once wrote a book titled There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
There is awe, and sadness, and regret, and wry humor.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
The queen had a wry sense of humor and enjoyed Angela’s wit and her habit of playfully teasing other courtiers.
—Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wry
Adjective
-
Now, in a more intimate setting, the sullen and sometimes-sarcastic shadings of this longtime singer-songwriter should hark back to Folds’ fledgling days on the alt-music scene.—
David L. Coddon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
In addition to Miranda's scathing remarks to Andy (Anne Hathaway) while trying to complete seemingly impossible tasks, Emily (Emily Blunt) and Nigel (Stanley Tucci) taught her how to navigate office politics with their own sarcastic comments.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
If your cardiorespiratory fitness could use a boost, Gavino said a wide range of physical activities can help, including aerobic activities like brisk walking, cycling, swimming, and interval training.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
13 May 2026
-
Even a 10-minute brisk walk or a 30-minute gardening session can have benefits.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Misogyny runs deep, quiet, local, and sharp as barbed wire.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
-
Surveillance camera footage captured Mott scaling an 8-foot fence topped with barbed wire at the perimeter of the airport in just 15 seconds, then walking across the runway.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Valerie, having found her backbone, is ultimately replaced on her sitcom by an AI version of Valerie, which sounds cynical — except that Valerie ends up getting a presumably far better job as the star of Stevens’ new series, Judge’s Table, about a judge who leaves the law to become a chef.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
-
Continue reading … SPACED OUT — Joe Rogan suggests upcoming UFO disclosure is cynical distraction from war in Iran.—
,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
-
The tracks are more vulnerable, biting, and self-aware than ever, and in some cases, feature lyrics pulled right out of Hjelt’s diary.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Both countries are keen to boost that number, though where the White House’s red line is drawn — particularly around cutting-edge tech and AI components — will be key.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
-
So there’s been keen interest in McConaughey’s strategy.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
That the Marlins managed to win Thursday’s game off an error when Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo bobbled the throw that allowed Joe Mack to score was nothing short of ironic.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
-
Auerbach recently heard George Thorogood’s debut with the Destroyers for the first time, an ironic biographical note, as his own band is Thorogood’s spiritual and stylistic progeny.—
Grayson Haver Currin,
Pitchfork,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
The end product is usually tough, dry, and stringy.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
-
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is set and dry but not browned, then let cool for 5 minutes.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wry. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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