the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning: the irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend.
Literature.
a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated.
(especially in contemporary writing) a manner of organizing a work so as to give full expression to contradictory or complementary impulses, attitudes, etc., especially as a means of indicating detachment from a subject, theme, or emotion.
Socratic irony.
dramatic irony.
an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected.
the incongruity of this.
an objectively sardonic style of speech or writing.
an objectively or humorously sardonic utterance, disposition, quality, etc.
Origin of irony
1
First recorded in 1495–1505; from Latin īrōnīa, from Greek eirōneía “dissimulation, sarcasm, understatement,” equivalent to eírōn “a dissembler” + -eia -y3
synonym study for irony
1, 2. Irony,sarcasm,satire indicate mockery of something or someone. The essential feature of irony is the indirect presentation of a contradiction between an action or expression and the context in which it occurs. In the figure of speech, emphasis is placed on the opposition between the literal and intended meaning of a statement; one thing is said and its opposite implied, as in the comment, “Beautiful weather, isn't it?” made when it is raining or nasty. Ironic literature exploits, in addition to the rhetorical figure, such devices as character development, situation, and plot to stress the paradoxical nature of reality or the contrast between an ideal and actual condition, set of circumstances, etc., frequently in such a way as to stress the absurdity present in the contradiction between substance and form. Irony differs from sarcasm in greater subtlety and wit. In sarcasm ridicule or mockery is used harshly, often crudely and contemptuously, for destructive purposes. It may be used in an indirect manner, and have the form of irony, as in “What a fine musician you turned out to be!” or it may be used in the form of a direct statement, “You couldn't play one piece correctly if you had two assistants.” The distinctive quality of sarcasm is present in the spoken word and manifested chiefly by vocal inflection, whereas satire and irony, arising originally as literary and rhetorical forms, are exhibited in the organization or structuring of either language or literary material. Satire usually implies the use of irony or sarcasm for censorious or critical purposes and is often directed at public figures or institutions, conventional behavior, political situations, etc.
That raised a particular irony, since Jones himself is arguably the Capitol’s biggest opponent of remote voting.
Sacramento Report: Jones, COVID-19 and the Irony of Remote Voting|Sara Libby and Jesse Marx|August 28, 2020|Voice of San Diego
It’s no small irony the movement is based on fraudulent data, published by the now disgraced Andrew Wakefield, an English gastroenterologist.
How Pseudoscientists Get Away With It - Facts So Romantic|Stuart Firestein|August 28, 2020|Nautilus
The grand irony being that they all blame each other for, well, who’s to blame.
Why an Amazon and Airbnb vet joined a digital health company that wants to slash drug prices|Sy Mukherjee|August 24, 2020|Fortune
It’s a bitter irony that the e-waste mountains collecting in the world’s poorest places actually contain a fortune.
We’re Using Microbes to Clean Up Toxic Electronic Waste. Here’s How|Sebastien Farnaud|August 20, 2020|Singularity Hub
The dark irony is that, when people take to the streets to protest racism in policing, some police have used cutting-edge tools with a known racial bias against those assembled.
There is a crisis of face recognition and policing in the US|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 14, 2020|MIT Technology Review
It may be fun and it may get them paid, until oversaturation ruins our sense for irony and destroys the market for it.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The irony did not escape one local, Laith Hathim, as he stood and watched the newly minted refugees make their way into Mosul.
Has the Kurdish Victory at Sinjar Turned the Tide of ISIS War?|Niqash|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The irony has thinned with the economy, perhaps: Who can really afford just to pretend to DIY today?
Glenn Beck Is Now Selling Hipster Clothes. Really.|Ana Marie Cox|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Lacking any sense of irony, Eldridge made campaign-finance reform a signature plank.
The Rise and Fall of Chris Hughes and Sean Eldridge, America’s Worst Gay Power Couple|James Kirchick|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The irony is that communities are protesting stereotyping—as cops respond in stereotypical ways.
The St. Louis Rams Enter the Ferguson Fray|Sally Kohn|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The eyes were large and gray, the expression that of a contemplative savant, with a faint dash of irony in their glance.
Ghosts I Have Seen|Violet Tweedale
And he smiled in a grim sort of irony at himself, for he knew that he was lost.
To Leeward|F. Marion Crawford
They are the record of a stubborn, prejudiced, well-trained musician and well-read man, one who was not devoid of irony.
Old Fogy|James Huneker
This may have been ironical on Nicol's part, but he might have spared his irony on his friend, for the promotion never came.
Robert Burns|Principal Shairp.
There is irony in this suggestion of the mercantile value of war on the lips of a spokesman of paupers.
Shakespeare and the Modern Stage|Sir Sidney Lee
British Dictionary definitions for irony (1 of 2)
irony1
/ (ˈaɪrənɪ) /
nounplural-nies
the humorous or mildly sarcastic use of words to imply the opposite of what they normally mean
an instance of this, used to draw attention to some incongruity or irrationality
incongruity between what is expected to be and what actually is, or a situation or result showing such incongruity
See dramatic irony
philosophy See Socratic irony
Word Origin for irony
C16: from Latin ironia, from Greek eirōneia, from eirōn dissembler, from eirein to speak
Is Ironic The Most Abused Word In English?Is it actually ironic to need a fork when you're surrounded by ten thousand spoons? We propose that "ironic" is among the most misused words in English.
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The use of words to mean something very different from what they appear on the surface to mean. Jonathan Swift uses irony in “A Modest Proposal” when he suggests the eating of babies as a solution to overpopulation and starvation in Ireland.