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. contrary; perverse.
6. 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

verb

1. tr to twist or contort

Derived Forms

• ˈwryness, noun
• ˈwryly, adverb

Other Words From

• wry·ly adverb
• wry·ness noun

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”

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

Example Sentences

Even at its most brooding, “Gemini” is enlivened by amusing wordplay and Heynderickx’s wry delivery.

From New York Times

After 70-plus years in the performing arts, it seems like everyone who works with Squibb, now 95, walks away admiring her wry comic timing, naturalistic delivery and preparation.

From Los Angeles Times

"Gladiator II is equal in scale and spectacle, and weighted with metaphor, but it’s also shot through with the kind of wry, absurdist slant that’s come to dominate Scott’s work of the last decade and a half," wrote Clarisse Loughrey.

From BBC

“Now, I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it,” she said, with a wry chuckle.

From Los Angeles Times

Martha Stewart doesn't do warts, but Cutler edits a wry irony into the artful coverage she dabs on her blemishes, like her refusal to count her marital infidelity as equivalent to that of her husband.

From Salon

Related Words

• droll
• ironic
• mocking
• sardonic
• warped