awry
awry Lexical Profile
awry Game Scores & Validity
• adverb
Away from the appropriate, planned, or expected course; amiss.
"Even our most carefully scheduled travel itinerary went awry when the transit strike began."
In a twisted, crooked, or obliquely angled position; to one side.
"The antique portrait hung awry on the parlor wall after the minor tremor."
• adjective
Out of the normal, expected, or planned course; amiss or wrong.
"Something was clearly awry with the company's quarterly financial calculations."
Turned or twisted toward one side; not straight or aligned properly.
"He hurried into the morning meeting with his collar awry and his hair disheveled."
Word Nuance & Usage
As an adjective, 'awry' is used almost exclusively in the predicate position (after a linking verb, as in 'the plan went awry') or postpositively right after a noun ('with his tie awry'), rather than directly before a noun.
• Rhymes for awry
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'on wry', combining the preposition 'a-' (meaning 'on' or 'in') with the root of the Old English verb 'wrigian', meaning 'to turn, twist, or bend'.