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
Perhaps Cronin’s biggest ally in his bid to keep coaching is his wry sense of humor.
—
Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
From time to time over the years, polls and pollsters have piqued the wit and wry humor of many cartoonists.
—W. Joseph Campbell, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
But though there are wry laughs to be had, from the exquisite awkwardness of the setup alone, Babygirl was received by many as a comedy, which trivializes the extraordinary atmosphere that Reijn creates.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2024
Though the subject matter is serious, the execution is wry, especially when Martin’s mother Linda (Lisa Kudrow, sharply hilarious) chimes in.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wry
Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
From time to time over the years, polls and pollsters have piqued the wit and wry humor of many cartoonists.
—W. Joseph Campbell, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
But though there are wry laughs to be had, from the exquisite awkwardness of the setup alone, Babygirl was received by many as a comedy, which trivializes the extraordinary atmosphere that Reijn creates.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2024
Though the subject matter is serious, the execution is wry, especially when Martin’s mother Linda (Lisa Kudrow, sharply hilarious) chimes in.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wry
Adjective
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While the jeers towards Xhaka followed the midfielder, Arsenal’s captain at the time, retaliating to sarcastic cheers from the crowd at him being replaced in an October 2019 home match against Crystal Palace, those directed at Eboue were due to his performance.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
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His first half was littered with increasingly ridiculous highlights: a lefty hook over Isaiah Hartenstein, a potpourri of 3s with hands in his face, a sarcastic stare-down after his defender tried taking a charge, followed by a pass to himself off the backboard to simplify the finish.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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The chippies, pubs and merchandise stalls on Goodison Road are doing brisk business, as fans arrive extra early to soak up precious last memories.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
-
Adames began jogging around the bases, but his trot soon slowed into a brisk walk.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
The inmates used blankets to protect themselves from the barbed wire on the fence.—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
21 May 2025
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The men brought blankets to protect themselves from barbed wire.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Is this a cynical attempt to rescue their party from a political free fall?—
John Opdycke,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 May 2025
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And so Lee’s reinterpretation strains to leave us on a high instead of a low, as befits the finale of an update so compellingly eager to flip the script on one of Kurosawa’s most cynical films.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Katy Perry is continuing to catch strays, this time from the most biting demographic of all: the pop girlie fandom.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
2 May 2025
-
During the taping of a recent Netflix special, Kyle Dunnigan impersonated Musk onstage in a biting parody—the audience laughed, but Rogan sat mostly silent, avoiding eye contact, appearing unwilling to signal disloyalty to the tech mogul.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
President Donald Trump's administration is also keen to increase energy exports to India to address a U.S. trade deficit of well over $45 billion in 2024.—
Danish Manzoor Bhat,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
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Gustavo Mejia, the Mandarina experiences manager who runs the operation, played 53 matches last year and hosted professional players as well as beginners keen to learn.—
Maya Kachroo-Levine,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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In the absence of such confidence, the aesthetic would be frivolous and decadent, or bitterly ironic.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2025
-
This is especially — and tragically — ironic because the current problems derive largely from the largest peacetime expansion of the money supply in at least a century.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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This higher elevation, combined with low to moderate levels of rainfall, temperature, and dry weather, all come together to form a pretty ideal environment for growing wine grapes.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2025
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On a drier week, the ball would have almost assuredly rolled through the rough, dunked into the water and forced Finau to drop with a one-stroke penalty.—
Jordan Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wry. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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