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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Recent Examples of wry
Perhaps Cronin’s biggest ally in his bid to keep coaching is his wry sense of humor.
—
Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
From time to time over the years, polls and pollsters have piqued the wit and wry humor of many cartoonists.
—W. Joseph Campbell, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
But though there are wry laughs to be had, from the exquisite awkwardness of the setup alone, Babygirl was received by many as a comedy, which trivializes the extraordinary atmosphere that Reijn creates.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2024
Though the subject matter is serious, the execution is wry, especially when Martin’s mother Linda (Lisa Kudrow, sharply hilarious) chimes in.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wry
Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
From time to time over the years, polls and pollsters have piqued the wit and wry humor of many cartoonists.
—W. Joseph Campbell, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
But though there are wry laughs to be had, from the exquisite awkwardness of the setup alone, Babygirl was received by many as a comedy, which trivializes the extraordinary atmosphere that Reijn creates.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2024
Though the subject matter is serious, the execution is wry, especially when Martin’s mother Linda (Lisa Kudrow, sharply hilarious) chimes in.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wry
Adjective
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Still, Ernst shared a sarcastic apology video after facing criticism from Democrats over her response to the town hall attendees' concerns.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
2 June 2025
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The vibe, never exactly cheerful, and never leavened by a hint of even the most sarcastic sense of humor, takes a turn for the horrific one evening in the wake of the bawdy revels celebrating Tomek’s wedding.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The barn jacket makes for a stylish layering piece, which is perfect to bring along for cool nights around the bonfire or brisk boat rides.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
23 May 2025
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Mike Dunleavy Reveals Big Offseason Roster Goal Now, after a brisk five-game defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves (mostly without their best player, Stephen Curry, who went down in Game 1 with a hamstring strain), the Warriors face an uncertain offseason.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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The other eight prisoners who escaped from their cell and hopped the barbed wire fence to freedom have all been recaptured.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
29 May 2025
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Sneakers hang by their laces from barbed wire, dangling above two motorbikes.—
Stephanie Yang,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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The British showrunner of that blisteringly cynical drama spent five years and 39 episodes giving us a portrait of filthy rich people pulling strings and behaving badly.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
31 May 2025
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But the message at the heart of Isle of Dogs, that saving others is the only way to save one’s self, is enough to turn the most cynical viewer into a believer—and maybe even a dog lover.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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But when Afrikaners began to take a serious interest in Mr. Trump’s refugee program, the biting remarks were unleashed.—
Zimasa Matiwane,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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Katy Perry is continuing to catch strays, this time from the most biting demographic of all: the pop girlie fandom.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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President Donald Trump's administration is also keen to increase energy exports to India to address a U.S. trade deficit of well over $45 billion in 2024.—
Danish Manzoor Bhat,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
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Gustavo Mejia, the Mandarina experiences manager who runs the operation, played 53 matches last year and hosted professional players as well as beginners keen to learn.—
Maya Kachroo-Levine,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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And if later Destinations would perfect the whole falling-dominos-of-death thing, did any of them pull off a more iconic, ironic jolt than poor Terry fatally failing to look both ways?—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
19 May 2025
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That such a straightforwardly earnest candidate would emerge as a favorite of the downtown world may seem unlikely: This set has been characterized as everything from reactionary to right-wing, and above all, governed by a certain ironic sensibility.—
Joseph Bernstein,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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These innocuous-seeming actions can kindle dry vegetation, potentially spawning a wildfire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2025
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In the Colorado River Basin, April and May were very dry.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wry. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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