Wry
adjective
Something twisted or bent to one side in a humorous or mocking way.
She had a wry smile on her face as she recalled the embarrassing moment.
adjective
Someone using or expressing sarcasm or a type of humor that shows that they are not happy about a situation.
He made a wry comment about the lack of customer service.
adjective
Something distorted or forced out of its usual or natural shape.
Wry neck is a condition causing the neck to twist to one side.
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Something twisted or bent to one side in a humorous or mocking way.
She had a wry smile on her face as she recalled the embarrassing moment.
adjective
Someone using or expressing sarcasm or a type of humor that shows that they are not happy about a situation.
He made a wry comment about the lack of customer service.
adjective
Something distorted or forced out of its usual or natural shape.
Wry neck is a condition causing the neck to twist to one side.
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Mockery
Shows mild or soft mockery, less direct than outright jokes.
His wry grin suggested he found the mistake amusing but didn't want to be rude.
Pro Tip 2/3Hidden Humor
Wry suggests humor that's not immediately obvious; you may have to think about it.
Her wry observation about the situation made us chuckle once it sank in.
Pro Tip 3/3Subdued Expression
Often used to describe a facial expression that's subtly humorous or ironic.
He listened to the confusing instructions with a wry expression.
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Mockery
Shows mild or soft mockery, less direct than outright jokes.
His wry grin suggested he found the mistake amusing but didn't want to be rude.
Pro Tip 2/3Hidden Humor
Wry suggests humor that's not immediately obvious; you may have to think about it.
Her wry observation about the situation made us chuckle once it sank in.
Pro Tip 3/3Subdued Expression
Often used to describe a facial expression that's subtly humorous or ironic.
He listened to the confusing instructions with a wry expression.
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Mockery
Shows mild or soft mockery, less direct than outright jokes.
His wry grin suggested he found the mistake amusing but didn't want to be rude.
Pro Tip 2/3Hidden Humor
Wry suggests humor that's not immediately obvious; you may have to think about it.
Her wry observation about the situation made us chuckle once it sank in.
Pro Tip 3/3Subdued Expression
Often used to describe a facial expression that's subtly humorous or ironic.
He listened to the confusing instructions with a wry expression.
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Video examples
Tribal leadership -...
and the third one got the same wry smile and said well well you were off doing your research and you were off you know doing your monkey meatball surgery that eventually will train you no monk used to do or cells or robots or maybe even not even me not even need to do at all I was off running the future of the residency program which is really the future of medicine and they all kind of
Video examples
David Logan: Tribal...
And the third one got the same wry smile and said, "Well, while you were off doing your research, and you were off doing your monkey meatball surgery, that eventually we'll train monkeys to do, or cells or robots, or maybe not even need to do it at all, I was off running the future of the residency program,
Video examples
Orangutans Feeding in...
on the mainland too but now these islands are its last refuge a wry Newton's or fruit eaters but prolific fruiting trees like figs are widely
Video examples
Tribal leadership -...
and the third one got the same wry smile and said well well you were off doing your research and you were off you know doing your monkey meatball surgery that eventually will train you no monk used to do or cells or robots or maybe even not even me not even need to do at all I was off running the future of the residency program which is really the future of medicine and they all kind of
Video examples
David Logan: Tribal...
And the third one got the same wry smile and said, "Well, while you were off doing your research, and you were off doing your monkey meatball surgery, that eventually we'll train monkeys to do, or cells or robots, or maybe not even need to do it at all, I was off running the future of the residency program,
Video examples
Orangutans Feeding in...
on the mainland too but now these islands are its last refuge a wry Newton's or fruit eaters but prolific fruiting trees like figs are widely
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Melissa Rosenberg
American Writer
I love Charlie, Billy Burke's character. Writing for him is so spectacular, he's so funny and wry and every scene he's in he just takes. There's a scene in 'Eclipse' where Bella tells him she's a virgin, and it's the funniest, most awkward scene I've ever seen on film.
Quote examples
Stephen Merchant
English Writer
I guess as you get older you sort of see the mechanics, even with the best comedians. There's admiration for people I admire, but it's not guttural laughter. It's a wry 'Oh, well done, sir.' But I sort of miss that slightly; I miss the raw joy of comedy I used to get.
Quote examples
Tom Bodett
American Author
Somebody says, 'Do a Tom Bodett, a folksy kind of thing,' and it sounds like something out of 'Hee Haw,' very insulting. They turn wry humor into disparaging sarcasm, and you get what amounts to insulting advertising.
Quote examples
Stephen Jay Gould
American Scientist
I love the wry motto of the Paleontological Society, meant both literally and figuratively, for hammers are the main tool of our trade: Frango ut patefaciam - I break in order to reveal.
Quote examples
Ken Follett
Welsh Author
James Bond is quite serious about his drinks and clothing and cigarettes and food and all that sort of thing. There is nothing wry or amused about James Bond.
Quote examples
Simon Pegg
British Comedian
I think at its best the American sense of humor is the same as the British sense of humor at its best, which is to be wry and ironic and self deprecating.
Quote examples
Floyd Skloot
American Poet
Elaine Equi has been publishing her observant, often playful poetry for some 30 years, extending and deepening the range of her intrinsically wry voice.
Quote examples
Jason Schreier
Though many of Obsidian's games have featured wry, sardonic humor, the developer has stuck to more serious fantasy and sci-fi themes.
Quote examples
Alice Levine
British Entertainer
I tend to do stuff that is in some way tongue in cheek or humorous or has a kind of wry side to it.
Quote examples
Melissa Rosenberg
American Writer
I love Charlie, Billy Burke's character. Writing for him is so spectacular, he's so funny and wry and every scene he's in he just takes. There's a scene in 'Eclipse' where Bella tells him she's a virgin, and it's the funniest, most awkward scene I've ever seen on film.
Quote examples
Stephen Merchant
English Writer
I guess as you get older you sort of see the mechanics, even with the best comedians. There's admiration for people I admire, but it's not guttural laughter. It's a wry 'Oh, well done, sir.' But I sort of miss that slightly; I miss the raw joy of comedy I used to get.
Quote examples
Tom Bodett
American Author
Somebody says, 'Do a Tom Bodett, a folksy kind of thing,' and it sounds like something out of 'Hee Haw,' very insulting. They turn wry humor into disparaging sarcasm, and you get what amounts to insulting advertising.
Quote examples
Stephen Jay Gould
American Scientist
I love the wry motto of the Paleontological Society, meant both literally and figuratively, for hammers are the main tool of our trade: Frango ut patefaciam - I break in order to reveal.
Quote examples
Ken Follett
Welsh Author
James Bond is quite serious about his drinks and clothing and cigarettes and food and all that sort of thing. There is nothing wry or amused about James Bond.
Quote examples
Simon Pegg
British Comedian
I think at its best the American sense of humor is the same as the British sense of humor at its best, which is to be wry and ironic and self deprecating.
Quote examples
Floyd Skloot
American Poet
Elaine Equi has been publishing her observant, often playful poetry for some 30 years, extending and deepening the range of her intrinsically wry voice.
Quote examples
Jason Schreier
Though many of Obsidian's games have featured wry, sardonic humor, the developer has stuck to more serious fantasy and sci-fi themes.
Quote examples
Alice Levine
British Entertainer
I tend to do stuff that is in some way tongue in cheek or humorous or has a kind of wry side to it.
Example 1 of 9
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