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
Davis is wry and quietly defiant of stereotype, her Elaine’s composure hard-won and her sacrifice of certain kinds of sympathy fully comprehensible.
—
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
The social media content showcased his wry sense of humor alongside his wrestling prowess that ingratiated him to his friends.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
At the Royal Academy, a similar wry wit echoes across Rose Wylie’s vast canvases (until April 19); read more about the rebellious painter and the show of her lifetime here.
—Mahoro Seward, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2026
The wry smile on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s face said it all.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wry
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
The social media content showcased his wry sense of humor alongside his wrestling prowess that ingratiated him to his friends.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
At the Royal Academy, a similar wry wit echoes across Rose Wylie’s vast canvases (until April 19); read more about the rebellious painter and the show of her lifetime here.
—Mahoro Seward, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2026
The wry smile on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s face said it all.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wry
Adjective
-
In her response, Stanton was livid and sarcastic.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Adebayo said with a sarcastic smile.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Ian Cheney’s brisk but sprawling doc interrogates the origins of the dish, who invented it, how it got popularized, and the eponymous 19th-century military leader who may (or may not) have inspired it.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
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And then, to step off the train after two days into a brisk Chicago afternoon, 2,265 miles from home, having never left the ground?—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Many South African farms are ringed in barbed wire and outfitted with security cameras; one of the migrants told me a story about confronting armed robbers.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The release put out by the White House is on the heels of barbed posts by top aide Cheung and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt against CNN and several other outlets.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The result is a movie where the jokes are just mean, and the meanness isn’t funny, leading to a cynical denouement that’s been done many times before.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
16 Mar. 2026
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Fit matters, especially in a place as cold and cynical as an NFL locker room.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
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The bulk of a Tyrannosaurus rex skull, the biting point of a shark tooth, the startling familiarity of a hominin footprint—and then there’s the charm inherent to any sample of regurgitalite, the paleontological term for fossilized vomit.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Activities and dining options are taken into consideration by concierge staff keen to point visitors in the direction of the best spots for yakitori or souvenir hunting nearby.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
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Brinson and Gomez have a keen sense of narrative and comic timing and a playful rapport.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In an ironic tailwind for the time being, the swings in the stock market are actually a boon for Goldman’s trading desk, which pulls in fees by offering clients complex options and swaps in order to hedge their risks.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
15 Mar. 2026
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Scott plays to his strengths as a performer with an ironic demeanor well-versed in deadpan humor.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The ridge will flatten and weaken a bit early next week as a dry cold front approaches Texas.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
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However, the constant tension on my hair can have my curls feeling dry and in need of intense moisture.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wry. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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