AWRY

awry, amiss(p), haywire, wrong

(adjective) not functioning properly; “something is amiss”; “has gone completely haywire”; “something is wrong with the engine”

askew, awry, cockeyed, lopsided, wonky, skew-whiff

(adjective) turned or twisted toward one side; “a...youth with a gorgeous red necktie all awry”- G.K.Chesterton; “his wig was, as the British say, skew-whiff”

awry, amiss

(adverb) away from the correct or expected course; “something has gone awry in our plans”; “something went badly amiss in the preparations”

askew, awry, skew-whiff

(adverb) turned or twisted to one side; “rugs lying askew”; “with his necktie twisted awry”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adverb

awry (comparative more awry, superlative most awry)

Obliquely, crookedly; askew.

Perversely, improperly.

Adjective

awry (comparative more awry, superlative most awry)

Turned or twisted toward one side; crooked, distorted, out of place.

Wrong or distorted; perverse, amiss.

Usage notes

• As an adjective, awry is almost always used as a predicate adjective.

Synonyms

• (misaligned): wonky (mostly UK)

Anagrams

• Wray, wary, wray

Source: Wiktionary


A*wry", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + wry.]

1. Turned or twisted toward one side; not in a straight or true direction, or position; out of the right course; distorted; obliquely; asquint; with oblique vision; as, to glance awry. "Your crown's awry." Shak. Blows them transverse, ten thousand leagues awry. Into the devious air. Milton.

2. Aside from the line of truth, or right reason; unreasonable or unreasonably; perverse or perversely. Or by her charms Draws him awry, enslaved. Milton. Nothing more awry from the law of God and nature than that a woman should give laws to men. Milton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

2 May 2025

MINESHAFT

(noun) excavation consisting of a vertical or sloping passageway for finding or mining ore or for ventilating a mine


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