as in sarcastic
marked by the use of clever and often dark humor
The writer had a wry wit that was something of an acquired taste.
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of wry
Through a Zoom screen, King radiates compassion and attunement, and Faber is wry and delightfully discursive; both seem like the mom whose house everybody would hang out at after school.
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Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2023
The elder Slay brother had approached life with a wry, dark sense of humor.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2023
His second album for DeMarco’s Mac’s Record Label, Sweet Dreamin’, is a breezy, nine-song, 24-minute delight led by Crick’s charming piano melodies and wry interpersonal narratives.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 13 Oct. 2023
The setup is familiar, but the film is wry, vivid and moving in unexpected ways — a testament to Jacobs’ singular touch, his gently eccentric blend of comic absurdism and emotional generosity.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for wry 
Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2023
The elder Slay brother had approached life with a wry, dark sense of humor.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2023
His second album for DeMarco’s Mac’s Record Label, Sweet Dreamin’, is a breezy, nine-song, 24-minute delight led by Crick’s charming piano melodies and wry interpersonal narratives.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 13 Oct. 2023
The setup is familiar, but the film is wry, vivid and moving in unexpected ways — a testament to Jacobs’ singular touch, his gently eccentric blend of comic absurdism and emotional generosity.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for wry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wry
Adjective
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But Baldoni alleges that the Times ignored additional context in the same text exchange that indicates Nathan and Abel were joking and being sarcastic.Brian Welk, IndieWire, 31 Dec. 2024
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Frustrated that people do not believe his consistent response to the same question, his tone grew sarcastic.Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Their brisk, lively, and skeptical history of subversion starts with ancient times, stops off in early modern Europe before moving on to recent centuries, and ends with a look forward.Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
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Muscle strengthening is still an important way to reach your physical activity requirements for optimal bone and muscle health, and walking (especially a brisk walk) is a great supplemental activity. — AVIV JOSHUA, MS, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD 2.Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Yoon’s guards have increased security at his Seoul residential compound with barbed wire installations and bus barricades.Ryan Hogg, Fortune Asia, 10 Jan. 2025
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The fence angered local ranchers and outdoor enthusiasts, who gathered in the forest in late October to tear down the Free Land Holders’ fence posts and barbed wire.Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Coming-of-age teen comedies were never quite as wonderfully cynical before this movie about four teenage girls whose lives are upended by the arrival of a new kid, played by Christian Slater.Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
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Without any real prospect of serious concessions from Western states, the Taliban became cynical about ever gaining legitimacy on the world stage.Delaney Simon, Foreign Affairs, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Created by Tony McNamara, who earned Oscar nominations for his writing work on both The Favourite and Poor Things, The Great offers the same combination of lush costumes and scenery mixed with a biting commentary on the world, and a woman’s place in it.Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
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Her awful journey is a raging scream against the patriarchy and a biting critique of how women are viewed, especially by other women.The Week US, theweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The drive to enthuse students (and anyone keen to learn) throughout the computer science industry is dominated by messaging designed to encourage people to gain certification and skills in software application development.Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
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For more experienced adventurers, especially those keen on windsurfing and kiteboarding, Canadian Hole (also known as the Haulover Day Use Area) is the ticket.Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This is quite ironic, considering the fact that, in real life, Rossellini is an outspoken advocate for embracing aging.Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 5 Jan. 2025
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Romantic dramas often get the short end of the acclaim stick, but casting this film in the comedy pool is an ironic twist of fate for a film (and book) that serve as cautionary tales about making hasty judgments.Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Silva suggests tools and techniques like Gua Sha and dry brushing.India Espy-Jones, Essence, 6 Jan. 2025
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MacKay’s droll speaking style failed to impress some voters but was a huge hit with his colleagues and the media because of his dry, self-deprecating sense of humor.Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near wry
Cite this Entry
“Wry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wry. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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