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
On an early episode of the show, Friedland opens with a wry, sputtering monologue.
—
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
Ralph Johnson is wry and endearing as the town rabbi, Ron Orbach is gruff and authentic as the butcher Lazar Wolf.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
But Chiefs head coach Andy Reid had a more wry take.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
The voice that emerges is clear, curious, wry, and endlessly generous.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wry
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
Ralph Johnson is wry and endearing as the town rabbi, Ron Orbach is gruff and authentic as the butcher Lazar Wolf.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
But Chiefs head coach Andy Reid had a more wry take.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
The voice that emerges is clear, curious, wry, and endlessly generous.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wry
Adjective
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Even an otherwise neutral comment can be contorted into a sarcastic retort, an insult or a counterattack.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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On the par-4 14th, Scheffler splashed out of a greenside bunker to 10 feet, missed the par putt, and then, without hesitation, threw a sarcastic fist pump toward the hole.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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International sales have already been unsurprisingly brisk.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
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All forms of exercise are helpful, and a great choice is simply taking a brisk walk every day.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Thailand says the barbed wire was set up to prevent the planting of mines and is on its own land.—
Matthew Tostevin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
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No one else writes with such wounding, barbed wit.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Nicole Kidman adds just the right amount of menace as a villainous taxidermist, but the heart of the movie lies in its celebration of kindness, decency and family—values that feel refreshingly radical in our cynical times.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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And there is often an expectation of escapism in romance that precludes dealing realistically with money — or, for big media blockbusters, a cynical assumption that audiences won't enjoy a romcom which also takes the logistics of life seriously.—
Chelsea Fagan,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The characters have this sharp, biting, British humor.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
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There’s Bud the biting cat, played by a feline named Tonic and who deserves a three-picture deal.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Shi seemed confident that Strand Larsen, who was keen to join Newcastle United before the deadline, will knuckle down despite Wolves rejecting two bids.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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This is not the 21st-century China that the state is keen to project in films that play abroad — and these characters are not model 21st-century Chinese, either.—
Adam Solomons,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Will those same places later serve as ironic backdrops for bloody shootouts?—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
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The line is calculated to appeal to a clientele of women rather like Freud herself—bohemian, elegant, subtle, ironical.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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After you’re finished cleaning, rinse with water and dry with a microfiber cloth.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
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Primary bathrooms, where hair and buildup from products like dry shampoo can leave floors a mess, are another high-traffic area of the house that can benefit from regular sweeping.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wry. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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