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
The wry commentary eventually curdled into ironic prophecy, as Keynes became one of those defunct economists.
—
Megan McArdle, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2026
The latter, a wry comedy of futile endeavor, was based on a story by Kiarostami, but Haghighi soon sought to shake off Kiarostami’s influence—and, even more, a prevailing caricature of Iranian cinema that Kiarostami’s style had given rise to.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
So there were dry eyes and wry grins when the men who knew him best gathered in the church basement after the ceremonies.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
The British Music Embassy re-animated the otherwise-defunct Palm Door on Sixth, hosting confessional and wry art by breakout bands like Sarah Meth and Adult DVD.
—Ramon Ramirez, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wry
Megan McArdle, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2026
The latter, a wry comedy of futile endeavor, was based on a story by Kiarostami, but Haghighi soon sought to shake off Kiarostami’s influence—and, even more, a prevailing caricature of Iranian cinema that Kiarostami’s style had given rise to.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
So there were dry eyes and wry grins when the men who knew him best gathered in the church basement after the ceremonies.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
The British Music Embassy re-animated the otherwise-defunct Palm Door on Sixth, hosting confessional and wry art by breakout bands like Sarah Meth and Adult DVD.
—Ramon Ramirez, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wry
Adjective
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Doncic held both arms aloft in sarcastic celebration.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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As for the time difference, Shanahan was sarcastic with his response to the San Francisco Chronicle.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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While the latest fusillade of ambiguity couldn’t have come at a worse time for the advertising market—brands have yet to register their budgets for the 2026-27 upfront bazaar, in which they’re expected to commit to some $17 billion in broadcast and cable inventory—early sports sales remain brisk.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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Expect plenty of sunshine and a brisk northwest wind with gusts reaching 25 to 30 mph along Marin and Sonoma ridgelines during the afternoon.—
Greg Porter,
San Francisco Chronicle,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Tangled pieces of barbed wire, reams of rubble and fallen concrete scarred the skyline in Karaj, western Iran, on Friday, after the US military bombed a major new bridge under construction.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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The fuzzy-looking crawlers can cause irritation and a rash to anyone whose skin comes in direct contact with the barbed hairs that cover the caterpillar.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Like [being in] the worst possible circumstances without giving up, without becoming cynical, without putting your head in the sand.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
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There, the naïve, bright-eyed woman moves in with a cynical, down-on-his-luck actor (Tituss Burgess), and the two push each other to look at the world in new ways.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Much like the days getting longer and the air less biting, a sure harbinger that spring is coming is the 33rd annual West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Naperville.—
Annie Alleman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
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For a place all too keen to forget the old in favor of new stars, new mandates, and new trends, Hollywood had a peculiar way of never letting Bernard forget her.—
Joshua John Miller,
Vanity Fair,
9 Apr. 2026
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His internet search history also showed a keen interest in the Gilgo Beach killings.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Auriemma has, on occasion, counseled Hurley, which made this role reversal so ironic.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
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In an ironic twist, the American president became the regime’s midwife, forcing the old order to mutate and reinvent itself.—
Boris Muñoz,
Time,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Drought conditions are spreading across the region, and much of the Philadelphia area is either abnormally dry or in a moderate drought.—
Tammie Souza,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Pat chicken dry and lightly season with salt.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wry. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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