wry

 
Pronunciation: /rʌɪ/

adjective (wryer, wryest or wrier, wriest)

  • 1using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humour: a wry smile wry comments
  • 2(of a person’s face or features) twisted into an expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance.
  • 3 archaic (of the neck or features) distorted or turned to one side: a remedy for wry necks

Derivatives

wryly

adverb

wryness

noun

Origin:

early 16th century (in the sense 'contorted'): from Old English wrīgian 'tend, incline', in Middle English 'deviate, swerve, contort'

Spelling help

The comparative and superlative (-er and -est forms) of wry can be spelled with a y or an i: (wryer, wryest or wrier, wriest).