wry

3 synonyms and 1 antonym for wry, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Dryly humorous, often in a way that shows you know a situation is awkward or difficult; ironic.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

dry

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

ironic

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

ironical

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Dryly humorous, often in a way that shows you know a situation is awkward or difficult; ironic.

“She gave a wry smile when the waiter tripped over her own joke about clumsy service.”

ironical ironic dry

2. adjective

Twisted or bent out of the normal, straight shape, especially describing a face or expression.

“His mouth twisted into a wry, lopsided grin.”

Opposites

straight

How to use wry

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a wry smile wry humor a wry sense of humor

Etymology

From Old English wrīgian, "to turn or twist," related to the word wriggle — the sense drifted from a literally twisted face to a twisted, ironic sense of humor.

Full origin of wry →

Frequently asked questions

What does “wry” mean?

The word “wry” means dryly humorous, often in a way that shows you know a situation is awkward or difficult; ironic. In plain terms, a wry remark or smile is dry, ironic, and a bit knowing — humor that pokes at something without being loud about it.

How do you pronounce “wry”?

“Wry” is pronounced reye (/ɹaɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “wry” in a sentence?

Here is “wry” used in a sentence: “She gave a wry smile when the waiter tripped over her own joke about clumsy service.”

What part of speech is “wry”?

“Wry” is an adjective.

Where does the word “wry” come from?

The word “wry” comes from Old English. From Old English wrīgian, "to turn or twist," related to the word wriggle — the sense drifted from a literally twisted face to a twisted, ironic sense of humor.

How many meanings does “wry” have?

“Wry” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: dryly humorous, often in a way that shows you know a situation is awkward or difficult; ironic.

People also searched

straight dry ironic ironical

Nearby words

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