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Is WRY a valid word?

W4
R1
Y4

Yes. WRY is a valid word.

WRY is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.

WRY is in the NASPA Word List 2023 (NWL2023), the North American list that Tileside uses for challenges and the one used in club and tournament play.

Meaning

Contorted; to contort.

More on Wiktionary

About WRY

WRY means dryly or mockingly humorous, as in a wry smile, and also twisted or bent to one side; its forms include WRIER, WRYER, WRIEST and WRYEST, and it works as a verb too. It has no A, E, I, O or U, and its W, R and Y are worth 9 points together. It is a familiar word and a safe play for a vowel-short rack.

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WRY scores 9 points

Before any bonus squares: W 4 + R 1 + Y 4 = 9. On a double-word square that's 18, on a triple-word 27, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.

W4
R1
Y4

Example: WRY as the first play

WRY through the ★: W 4 + R 1 + Y 4 = 9, and the ★ doubles the first word: 18 points. New tiles are outlined.

Later in the game, put the W on a 3L square and WRY is worth 17 before any word bonus.

Hooks: one tile makes a new word

In front of WRY (1):

  • AWRYturned or twisted toward one side

Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.

Longer words from WRY

Other forms of WRY (7):

Words that start with WRY:

  • WRYLYin a wry manner
  • WRYNECKan unnatural condition in which the head leans to one side because the neck muscles on that side are contracted
  • WRYNESS
  • WRYNECKSform of WRYNECK: an unnatural condition in which the head leans to one side because the neck muscles on that side are contracted
  • WRYNESSES

Change one tile

Swap any one letter of WRY and these are still words:

  • CRYto weep
  • DRYa prohibitionist; having no moisture; to make dry
  • FRYto cook over direct heat in hot fat or oil
  • PRYto inquire impertinently into private matters
  • TRYto attempt
  • WAYhow something is done or how it happens
  • WHYthe reason or cause of something

Same letters, other words

No other word in the list uses exactly the letters W, R and Y.

Add one tile: words from these letters plus one more

WRY + A

  • AWRYturned or twisted toward one side
  • WARYmarked by keen caution and watchful prudence

WRY + I

Memory tip

WRY means dryly funny, or twisted to one side, as in a wry smile.

On these lists

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Tileside checks words against the North American list, the NASPA Word List 2023. Your group's chosen dictionary always wins.

Word list: NASPA Word List 2023, used under license. NASPA Word List 2023 Edition © NASPA 2023. The copy included in this app is licensed for personal use. You may not use it for any commercial purposes.

Works with the Scrabble board game, played at the table. Tileside is an independent product, not affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Scrabble.