If someone has a wry expression, it shows that they find a bad situation or a change in a situation slightly amusing.
Matthew allowed himself a wry smile.
She cast a wry glance in her grandmother's direction.
Synonyms: contorted, twisted, crooked, distorted More Synonyms of wry
wrylygraded adverb
She studied him for the longest time, looking wryly amused.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A wry remark or piece of writing refers to a bad situation or a change in a situation in an amusing way.
The play is a rueful, wry observation about the way we are all subject to the ravagesof time.
There is a wry sense of humour in his work.
wrylygraded adverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective/-ed]
As Carr wryly notes, 'Being freed up sounds a lot more pleasant than being fired.'
More Synonyms of wry
wry in British English
(raɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: wrier, wriest, wryer or wryest
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
verbWord forms: wries, wrying or wried
6. (transitive)
to twist or contort
Derived forms
wryly (ˈwryly)
adverb
wryness (ˈwryness)
noun
Word origin
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
wry in American English
(raɪ)
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: wried or ˈwrying
1.
to writhe or twist
adjectiveWord forms: ˈwrier or ˈwryer, ˈwriest or ˈwryest
2. Archaic
turned or bent to one side; twisted
3.
made by twisting or distorting the features
a wry face
4. Rare
distorted, as in meaning
5.
dry, ironic, sardonic, etc.
wry humor
Derived forms
wryly (ˈwryly)
adverb
wryness (ˈwryness)
noun
Word origin
ME wrien, to twist, bend < OE wrigian, to turn, twist, akin to OFris wrigia, to bend, stoop < IE *wreik- (> L rica, head veil) < base *wer-, to turn, bend
Examples of 'wry' in a sentence
wry
He has a wry sense of his own flaws.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Packed full of witty and wry observations and some extremely pertinent advice.
The Sun (2014)
He has a wry sense of humour and an astonishing smile.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
All at once she shook her head and smiled with a wry twist of her mouth.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
He has a wry sense of humour and seems to be bursting with ideas.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There is a wry smile at the memory.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was also not without wry comedy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She told the tale with wry amusement.
Bethune, Helen Positive Parent Power (1991)
The comic and actor takes a wry look at parenthood.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It was meant as a wry observation about health and safety.
The Sun (2008)
He had a wry sense of humour and a twinkle in his eye.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He had a wry sense of humour.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Press reaction has not been without a wry smile.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is a cautionary tale with wry observations about our decadent society entwined around a mournful melody.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Cue a wry smile and a mopped brow.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She viewed them with wry amusement.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She was mistress of the wry, speaking glance.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The presenter takes a wry look at what's been going on in media and politics.
The Sun (2015)
He was kind to all who knew him and possessed a wry, intellectual sense of humour.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In both Mountain remained a great stylist and emerged as a man of wry but gentle observation.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I treat it with wry amusement and infinite gratitude.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There is wry humour too.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This wry little documentary looks at the modern phenomenon of mobility scooters, sales of which have quadrupled in the past five years.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The ingredients, one might think, for a wry comedy.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Here she is engaging, wry, humorous and as good a writer as she was a photographer.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
wry
British English: wry ADJECTIVE
If someone has a wry expression, it shows that they find a bad situation or a change in a situation slightly amusing.
He allowed himself a wry smile.
American English: wry
Brazilian Portuguese: torto
Chinese: 啼笑皆非的
European Spanish: irónico
French: ironique
German: trocken
Italian: ironico
Japanese: 皮肉を込めた
Korean: 짜증스러우면서도 재미있다는 듯한 표정을 지어 보이는 것
European Portuguese: torto
Latin American Spanish: irónico
1 (adjective)
Definition
drily humorous
a wry sense of humour
Synonyms
ironic
At the most solemn moments he would make an ironic remark.
dry
He is renowned for his dry wit.
mocking
She gave a mocking smile.
sarcastic
She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.
sardonic
a sardonic sense of humour
droll
pawky (Scottish)
mordacious
2 (adjective)
Definition
(of a facial expression) produced by twisting one's features to denote amusement or displeasure
She cast a wry grin in his direction.
Synonyms
contorted
twisted
a wry, twisted smile
crooked
the crooked line of his broken nose
distorted
His face was distorted but recognizable.
warped
uneven
He staggered on the uneven surface of the car park.
deformed
He was born with a deformed right leg.
awry
His dark hair was all awry.
askew
She stood there, hat askew.
aslant
skewwhiff (British, informal)
Opposites
even
,
level
,
straight
,
smooth
,
aligned
,
unbent
Additional synonyms
in the sense of askew
Definition
towards one side
She stood there, hat askew.
Synonyms
crooked,
awry,
oblique,
lopsided,
off-centre,
cockeyed (informal),
skewwhiff (British, informal)
in the sense of awry
Definition
with a twist to one side
His dark hair was all awry.
Synonyms
askew,
twisted,
crooked,
to one side,
uneven,
off course,
out of line,
asymmetrical,
off-centre,
cockeyed (informal),
misaligned,
out of true,
skew-whiff (informal)
in the sense of crooked
Definition
bent or twisted
the crooked line of his broken nose
Synonyms
bent,
twisted,
bowed,
curved,
irregular,
warped,
deviating,
out of shape,
misshapen
Nearby words of
wry
wrongful
wrongly
wrought-up
wry
X-ray
xenophobia
xenophobic
Synonyms of 'wry'
wry
Explore 'wry' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of deformed
Definition
disfigured or misshapen
He was born with a deformed right leg.
Synonyms
distorted,
bent,
twisted,
crooked,
warped,
maimed,
marred,
mangled,
disfigured,
misshapen,
malformed,
misbegotten
in the sense of distorted
His face was distorted but recognizable.
Synonyms
deformed,
bent,
twisted,
crooked,
irregular,
warped,
buckled,
disfigured,
contorted,
misshapen
in the sense of dry
Definition
(of humour) subtle and sarcastic
He is renowned for his dry wit.
Synonyms
sarcastic,
cutting,
sharp,
keen,
cynical,
low-key,
sly,
sardonic,
deadpan,
droll,
ironical,
quietly humorous
in the sense of mocking
She gave a mocking smile.
Synonyms
scornful,
insulting,
taunting,
scoffing,
satirical,
contemptuous,
irreverent,
sarcastic,
sardonic,
derisory,
disrespectful,
disdainful,
derisive,
satiric,
contumelious (literary)
in the sense of sarcastic
Definition
full of or showing sarcasm
She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.
Synonyms
ironical,
cynical,
satirical,
cutting,
biting,
sharp,
acid,
mocking,
taunting,
sneering,
acrimonious,
backhanded,
contemptuous,
disparaging,
sardonic,
caustic,
bitchy (informal),
vitriolic,
acerbic,
derisive,
ironic,
mordant,
sarky (British, informal),
mordacious,
acerb
in the sense of sardonic
Definition
(of behaviour) mocking or scornful
a sardonic sense of humour
Synonyms
mocking,
cynical,
dry,
bitter,
sneering,
jeering,
malicious,
wry,
sarcastic,
derisive,
ironical,
mordant,
mordacious
in the sense of skewwhiff
Definition
crooked or slanting
Synonyms
crooked,
tilted,
squint (informal),
askew,
cockeyed (informal),
out of true,
aslant
in the sense of twisted
a wry, twisted smile
Synonyms
crooked,
contorted,
lopsided,
wry
in the sense of uneven
Definition
(of a surface) not level or flat
He staggered on the uneven surface of the car park.