wryly

[ rahy-lee ]

adverb

1. in a mockingly or amusingly ironic way:

   It will be an evening of wryly thoughtful musing, whimsical conversation, and a few old-timey songs.

2. in a bitter or scornful way; sardonically:

   The writer wryly adds that he has complete faith in humanity's ability to wake up at the alarm and promptly hit the snooze button.

3. in a distorted, bent, or lopsided manner:

   His lips twisted wryly at the acknowledgment.

Word History and Origins

Origin of wryly¹

wry ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Somewhere, the aforementioned Spanish director behind “The Exterminating Angel” is nodding wryly at the idea of a satire about G-7 leaders set in a peat bog thick with mummified zombies.

From Los Angeles Times

Smiling wryly, Hubbard explained that he had a good sense of what Harris might have endured at McDonald’s because he once worked at Burger King.

From Los Angeles Times

“Oh, how far we’ve come. Today a Republican candidate for vice president would never attack a woman for having kids, so as they say, my work here is done,” she said wryly, adding, “Meow.”

From Salon

Arizona Sen. John McCain, who ran for president against Obama in 2008, wryly turned a band’s potential rejection into a joke.

From Los Angeles Times

Curtis, when asked in an MTV interview segment what phase the Marvel Cinematic Universe was currently in after nearly two decades of blockbusters, wryly responded “Bad,” prompting fury from die-hard MCU stans online.

From Salon