wryly

English

Alternative forms

• wrily

Etymology

From wry +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹaɪli/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪli
• Homophones: Riley, wrylie

Adverb

wryly (comparative more wryly, superlative most wryly)

1. In a wry or sarcastic manner; ironically.
   • 1966, Jacqueline Susann, Valley of the Dolls, Grove Press, published 1997, page 206:

     The sins of the father, she thought wryly. Well, they had visited Tony, all right—only he didn't know it.

   • 1991, Alison Weir, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Grove Press, published 2000, page 219:

     ‘The king is displeased with it, but he has to be patient,’ Chapuys wryly commented.

   • 2023 May 22, Andrew Roth, “Anti-Putin militia claims to have overrun Russian border village”, in The Guardian‎^[1], →ISSN:

     A Ukrainian presidential adviser wrote that Kyiv had nothing to do with the attacks but then wryly compared them to Russia’s past use of proxy forces to fight in Ukraine.

2. (of a facial expression) Contortedly.
   • 1909, P. G. Wodehouse, Mike‎^[2]:

     It was Joe, who had taken the gloves when the wicket-keeper went on to bowl.
     Mike grinned, wryly but gratefully.

   • 1920 November 9, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, Women in Love, New York, N.Y.: Privately printed [by Thomas Seltzer] for subscribers only, →OCLC:

     “Only your Virginie,” she laughed.
     “Virginie enough,” he smiled wryly. “No, I don’t want her either.”