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View synonyms for wry

wry

[ rahy ]

adjective

, wri·er, wri·est.
  1. bitterly or disdainfully ironic or amusing:

    a wry remark.

  2. produced by a distortion or lopsidedness of the facial features:

    a wry grin.

  3. abnormally bent or turned to one side; contorted; crooked:

    a wry mouth.

    Synonyms: askew, awry

    Antonyms: straight

  4. devious in course or purpose; misdirected.
  5. distorted or perverted, as in meaning.


wry

/ raɪ /

adjective

  1. twisted, contorted, or askew
  2. (of a facial expression) produced or characterized by contorting of the features, usually indicating dislike
  3. drily humorous; sardonic
  4. warped, misdirected, or perverse
  5. (of words, thoughts, etc) unsuitable or wrong
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. tr to twist or contort
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈwryness, noun
  • ˈwryly, adverb
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Other Words From

  • wry·ly adverb
  • wry·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of wry1

First recorded in 1515–25; adjective use of obsolete verb wry “to twist,” Middle English wryen, Old English wrīgian “to go, strive, tend, swerve”; cognate with Dutch wrijgen “to twist”; akin to Old English wrigels, Latin rīcula “veil,” Greek rhoikós “crooked”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of wry1

C16: from dialect wry to twist, from Old English wrīgian to turn; related to Old Frisian wrīgia to bend, Old Norse riga to move, Middle Low German wrīch bent, stubborn
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Example Sentences

Making sense of her life on the page, deploying raw emotion alongside humor and wry mischief, has long been a Bechdel pursuit.

The quick-cut trailer suggests a soft-core romp with dramatic intrigue and wry one-liners.

I looked at parts of it," he says, adding with wry self-deprecation, "I didn't see much benefit in comparing myself to Marlon.

Her wry, progressive grandmother Oleanna Redwyne (Diana Rigg)—the real power behind the House Tyrell.

But Beard was, as Beard would have put it, "wry," which is the word people like Beard use when they mean funny.

Gwynne made a wry face as he sat down before the dressing-table that he might reflect his visage while he brushed his hair.

Janet made a wry face and with the greatest care eased herself into a chair piled with cushions.

To admire these same views, is it not admiring without knowing wry?

Genevieve made a wry face; then, meeting Mrs. Kennedy's reproving eye, she colored.

King OLeary made a wry face, and ran his hand nervously through his hair.

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