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.

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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 The festival has stoked best actor consideration for John Malkovich, whose wry turn in Wild Horse Nine has garnered abundant attention. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 6 Sep. 2026 Elaine May cut her teeth as an improvisational comedian alongside Mike Nichols before finding her wickedly sharp, wry writer’s voice and knack for directing in her debut film, A New Leaf (1971). — Air Mail, 5 Sep. 2026 Hardy’s prose brims with assurance and wry details that come from lived experiences and conversations. — Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The wry, winking tone still legible in its pages was an early iteration of the urbane magazine voice that powered nineteenth-century publications such as Judge and Puck, as well as later ones like The New Yorker, New York, Spy, and Gawker. — Eric Lach, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wry

Adjective

Fresh Air critic John Powers describes it as a unique blend of creepiness, sarcastic humor and political anger, unlike anything else on TV.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
This hampers several of my favorite performances, especially Harper, whose Ben is full of sarcastic indignation, and June Laporte as Ginny, an aspiring reporter in need of proper mentoring.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of sarcastic

Adjective

But adding just five more minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, every day could prevent up to 10% of premature deaths, according to a large observational study.

— Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 29 Sep. 2026
Fall’s brisk weather brings with it the promise of cozy knitwear, cashmere socks, and roaring fires—perhaps the only downside is that the grey skies exacerbate the our considerable vitamin D deficiency.

— Violet Hayward, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of brisk

Adjective

The state oversees different types of facilities for kids in the justice system, ranging in security level from group homes to prisons surrounded by barbed wire.

— Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 25 Sep. 2026
Which is to say, this is more a barbed comedy of manners than a proper, elegant period piece.

— Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of barbed

Adjective

Swarup’s book exposes the cynical nature of the quiz show, dangling a literal lifeline to desperate people for the sake of entertainment.

— L.M. Chilton, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
Myriad people inside Warner Bros are cynical about the capping of severances and the fact that only a few at the top are bound for a post-merger windfall.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of cynical

Adjective

Her version is louder and more biting, but never at the sacrifice of the track’s spirit.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
In 2022, Lee County’s Mosquito Control District decided to try aiming radiation at mosquitoes instead, specifically the biting, disease-carrying kind — Aedes aegypti.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of biting

Adjective

That latest round of NFL-booth musical chairs has already seeded some decidedly dodgy ideas in the minds of our keenest sports-media types.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 Oct. 2026
At one point before its completion, Kanye West reportedly toured the active construction site, expressing a keen interest in purchasing the sprawling hillside complex.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of keen

Adjective

Recently, the sector has been affected by El Nino, which brings weak monsoons and dry weather, reducing yields and sucrose recovery.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
My complexion tends to be dry in some areas and oily in others, so striking the balance between glow and grease can be tricky.

— Lucy Partington, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of dry

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“Wry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wry. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of wry

adjective

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