WRY Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

wry

adjective

Definition of wry

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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of wry Wright is a highly engaging writer with a wry wit, and The God Test is a pleasure to read. — Air Mail, 13 June 2026 As his practice evolved, Michals would continue to question the cycles of life and time, creating sequences that often have a wry sense of humor and surrealist bent to them. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 11 June 2026 Meanwhile, the boy protagonist—both innocent and wry, and more mature than either parent—shuttles between the two, trying to keep them from falling apart entirely. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 10 June 2026 The cockroach has become a wry badge of endurance and political articulation. — ABC News, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wry

Adjective

Another way to say this is that, in place of the extensive self-announcements Plato allows his characters, Rochester substitutes his own summary judgements, his sarcastic imitations.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
This is taken as evidence of his status, not a sarcastic criticism.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026

Definition of sarcastic

Adjective

The vineyard is the site of a Christmas tree farm, and tends to be crisp and brisk, like the resulting wines.

— Laura Ness, Mercury News, 5 July 2026
There are brisk 7am forest walks, group yoga, breath work, and a class on Lanserhof healing exercises, which combine stretching, tapping, and movement.

— Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026

Definition of brisk

Adjective

The fence, as constructed, is more than 8 feet tall and is topped with a strand of barbed wire — too high for many animals to jump and dangerous for those that attempt to do so.

— Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 28 June 2026
Vines have grown through the fence and barbed wire surrounding a tall art deco building in this city’s downtown, and cigarette holders and empty food tins litter the tall weeds.

— Susan Svrluga, Washington Post, 24 June 2026

Definition of barbed

Adjective

His willingness to move to Rio de Janeiro upon taking the job endeared him to the cynical public, as did his decision to call up Neymar to his squad to quieten the noise the forward’s potential exclusion would have brought with it.

— Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Against the run of play, the Atlas Lions won a free kick near the corner of the box after Luc De Fougerolles was booked for a cynical challenge.

— Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 4 July 2026

Definition of cynical

Adjective

Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2026
So Google isn’t trying to release more biting mosquitoes into neighborhoods.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026

Definition of biting

Adjective

Combine that with increasingly hotter and drier weather due to climate change, and forests in the Sierra Nevada are left with a ton of stuff that’s ready to burst into flames.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Rubye was ten feet ahead, bent under the weight of a dry bag, in a cloud of black flies.

— John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026