adjective C1 Advanced

wry

reye

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Wry (adjective) means Dryly humorous, often in a way that shows you know a situation is awkward or difficult; ironic. Example: “She gave a wry smile when the waiter tripped over her own joke about clumsy service.”

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."

"He made a wry comment about how the meeting could have been an email."

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

"His mouth twisted into a wry, lopsided grin."

"The old sign hung at a wry angle after the storm."

How to use wry

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA wry remark or smile is dry, ironic, and a bit knowing — humor that pokes at something without being loud about it.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "wry" with "rye" (the grain/bread) — they sound identical but are unrelated.

Easily confused with

rye →

Common pairings

a wry smile wry humor a wry sense of humor

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Third person singular: wries
Past tense: wried
Comparative: wrier, wryer
Superlative: wriest, wryest

Test yourself on “wry” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

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

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.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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ironical ironic dry

Antonyms

straight

Related words

straight direct directly sweet square dry wet linear

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.

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