Irony is a subtle form of humour which involves saying things that you do not mean.
They find only irony in the narrator's concern.
Sinclair examined the closed, clever face for any hint of irony, but found none.
Synonyms: sarcasm, mockery, ridicule, bitterness More Synonyms of irony
2. variable noun
If you talk about the irony of a situation, you mean that it is odd or amusing because it involves a contrast.
The irony is that many officials in Washington agree in private that their policyis inconsistent.
The irony of the situation is not lost on Fellaini.
[Also + of/in]
More Synonyms of irony
irony in British English1
(ˈaɪrənɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-nies
1.
the humorous or mildly sarcastic use of words to imply the opposite of what they normally mean
2.
an instance of this, used to draw attention to some incongruity or irrationality
3.
incongruity between what is expected to be and what actually is, or a situation or result showing such incongruity
4. dramatic irony
5. philosophy Socratic irony
Word origin
C16: from Latin ironia, from Greek eirōneia, from eirōn dissembler, from eirein to speak
irony in British English2
(ˈaɪənɪ)
adjective
of, resembling, or containing iron
irony in American English1
(ˈaɪrəni; ˈaɪərni)
nounWord forms: pluralˈironies
1.
a.
a method of humorous or subtly sarcastic expression in which the intended meaning of the words is the direct opposite of their usual sense
the irony of calling a stupid plan “clever”
b.
an instance of this
2.
the contrast, as in a play, between what a character thinks the truth is, as revealed in a speech or action, and what an audience or reader knows the truth to be
: often dramatic irony
3.
a combination of circumstances or a result that is the opposite of what is or might be expected or considered appropriate
an irony that the firehouse burned
4.
a.
a cool, detached attitude of mind, characterized by recognition of the incongruities and complexities of experience
b.
the expression of such an attitude in a literary work
5.
the feigning of ignorance in argument
often called Socratic irony (after Socrates' use of this tactic in Plato's Dialogues)
SIMILAR WORDS: wit
Word origin
Fr ironie < L ironia < Gr eirōneia < eirōn, dissembler in speech < eirein, to speak < IE base *wer-, to speak > word
irony in American English2
(ˈaɪərni)
adjective
of, like, or containing iron
COBUILD Collocations
irony
bitter irony
cruel irony
delicious irony
Examples of 'irony' in a sentence
irony
The irony of this situation is striking.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A diplomatic source said: 'The irony is that the royal family has used oil to slow down social change.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What kind of cruel irony embedded this peace directive in the very source of my discontent?
Christianity Today (2000)
The great irony is that it was a relationship borne from more worrying beginnings.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There was a certain irony in the timing of the announcement.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
His failure to see the irony is perhaps inevitable.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
There was an added irony to the situation.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There is a bitter irony to her decline.
The Sun (2011)
There is a cruel irony for cancer care in this country.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She has a great sense of irony.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There was a certain irony in the run of play.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There is a further touch of irony to the situation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Such are the bitter ironies of history.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Do you find his use of irony effective in making his argument and in convincing you to share his view?
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
Nobody sees the irony except me.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There is humour, irony and satire.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Wouldn't that be a delicious irony?
The Sun (2011)
It allows for difference, irony and humour.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I look for traces of irony but find none.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There is a delicious irony about a campaign promising more honesty in politics through the deployment of an argument it must know to be entirely dishonest.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He said: 'The irony is my initial instinct was to have wind turbines.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We defuse situations and transmit subtle messages through irony, humour and self-deprecation.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He said: 'The irony of the recent managerial situation at my previous club does not escape me.
The Sun (2010)
The irony is not subtle: they tidy up the mess of other people's lives but their own are smothered by chaos.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
One neighbour said: 'The irony is that he has green energy at home but his firm is behind this terrible oil spill.
The Sun (2010)
Word lists with
irony
figure of speech
In other languages
irony
British English: irony /ˈaɪrənɪ/ NOUN
Irony is a form of humour which involves saying things that you do not mean.
There was no irony in his voice.
American English: irony
Arabic: سُخْرِيَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: ironia
Chinese: 讽刺
Croatian: ironija
Czech: ironie
Danish: ironi
Dutch: ironie
European Spanish: ironía
Finnish: ironia
French: ironie
German: Ironie
Greek: ειρωνεία
Italian: ironia
Japanese: 皮肉
Korean: 풍자
Norwegian: ironi
Polish: ironia
European Portuguese: ironia
Romanian: ironie
Russian: ирония
Latin American Spanish: ironía
Swedish: ironi
Thai: การประชด
Turkish: ince alay
Ukrainian: іронія
Vietnamese: sự mỉa mai
All related terms of 'irony'
cruel irony
If you talk about the irony of a situation, you mean that it is odd or amusing because it involves a contrast .
bitter irony
If you talk about the irony of a situation, you mean that it is odd or amusing because it involves a contrast .
tragic irony
the use of dramatic irony in a tragedy ( originally , in Greek tragedy), so that the audience is aware that a character's words or actions will bring about a tragic or fatal result, while the character is not
delicious irony
If you talk about the irony of a situation, you mean that it is odd or amusing because it involves a contrast .
dramatic irony
the irony occurring when the implications of a situation , speech, etc, are understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play
Socratic irony
a means by which the pretended ignorance of a skilful questioner leads the person answering to expose his or her own ignorance
Chinese translation of 'irony'
irony
(ˈaɪrənɪ)
n
(u) (in speech) 讽(諷)刺 (fěngcì)
(c/u)[of situation]讥(譏)讽(諷) (jīfěng)
1 (noun)
Definition
the mildly sarcastic use of words to imply the opposite of what they normally mean
She examined his face for a hint of irony, but found none.
Synonyms
sarcasm
His voice was heavy with sarcasm.
mockery
Was there a glint of mockery in his eyes?
ridicule
He was subjected to public ridicule.
bitterness
scorn
They greeted the proposal with scorn.
satire
It's an easy target for satire.
cynicism
I found Ben's cynicism wearing at times.
derision
He tried to calm them but was greeted with shouts of derision.
causticity
mordancy
2 (noun)
Definition
a situation or result that is the direct opposite of what was expected or intended
Opposition parties wasted no time in stressing the irony of the situation.
Synonyms
paradox
Death is a paradox, the end yet the beginning.
ambiguity
absurdity
I get angry at the absurdity of a situation.
incongruity
contrariness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of absurdity
I get angry at the absurdity of a situation.
Synonyms
ridiculousness,
joke,
nonsense,
malarkey,
folly,
farce,
stupidity,
foolishness,
silliness,
idiocy,
irrationality,
incongruity,
meaninglessness,
daftness (informal),
senselessness,
illogicality,
ludicrousness,
unreasonableness,
preposterousness,
farcicality,
craziness (informal),
bêtise (rare),
farcicalness,
illogicalness
in the sense of cynicism
Definition
the attitude or beliefs of a cynic
I found Ben's cynicism wearing at times.
Synonyms
scepticism,
pessimism,
sarcasm,
misanthropy,
sardonicism
in the sense of derision
He tried to calm them but was greeted with shouts of derision.
Synonyms
mockery,
laughter,
contempt,
ridicule,
scorn,
insult,
sneering,
disdain,
scoffing,
disrespect,
denigration,
disparagement,
contumely (literary),
raillery
Synonyms of 'irony'
irony
Explore 'irony' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of mockery
Definition
ridicule, contempt, or derision
Was there a glint of mockery in his eyes?
Synonyms
derision,
contempt,
ridicule,
scorn,
jeering,
disdain,
scoffing,
disrespect,
gibes,
contumely (literary)
in the sense of ridicule
Definition
language or behaviour intended to humiliate or mock
He was subjected to public ridicule.
Synonyms
mockery,
scorn,
derision,
laughter,
irony,
rib,
taunting,
sneer,
satire,
jeer,
banter,
sarcasm,
chaff,
gibe,
raillery,
banter
in the sense of satire
Definition
the use of ridicule to expose incompetence, evil, or corruption