Irony — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈī-rə-nē/ iro·ny

Meaning & Definition of Irony

Irony (noun)

  1. the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning
  2. a usually humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by irony
  3. an ironic expression or utterance

Irony (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a situation that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite of what is expected

    "We got a good chuckle seeing their tow truck being towed away, but our friends failed to see the irony."

    similar: contradiction, dichotomy, incongruity, paradox, absurdity, illogicality, laughableness, ludicrousness, peculiarity, ridiculousness, amusement, enjoyment, fun, pleasure, whimsicality, wittiness, wryness, comedy, comic, comicality, drollery, drollness, funniness, hilariousness, humor, humorousness, richness, uproariousness, burlesque, caricature, farce, jest, lampoon, parody, satire, slapstick, spoof, takeoff, jocularity, jokiness, playfulness, waggishness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Irony

The most common words with a similar meaning to Irony:

contradiction, dichotomy, incongruity, paradox, absurdity, illogicality, laughableness, ludicrousness, peculiarity, ridiculousness, amusement, enjoyment, fun, pleasure, whimsicality, wittiness, wryness, comedy, comic, comicality, drollery, drollness, funniness, hilariousness, humor, humorousness, richness, uproariousness, burlesque, caricature, farce, jest, lampoon, parody, satire, slapstick, spoof, takeoff, jocularity, jokiness

Word Forms of Irony

Inflections: ironies

Origin & Etymology of Irony

Latin ironia, from Greek eirōnia, from eirōn dissembler

First known use: 1502

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Irony

Words & Phrases Containing Irony

dramatic irony, situational irony, Socratic irony

Frequently Asked Questions about Irony

What does "Irony" mean?

"Irony" means the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning. As a noun, it is defined as: the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning.

What is another word for "Irony"?

Other words for "Irony" include contradiction, dichotomy, incongruity, paradox, absurdity, illogicality, laughableness and ludicrousness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Irony" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Irony"?

There are 42 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Irony". Common alternatives include contradiction, dichotomy, incongruity, paradox, absurdity, illogicality, laughableness, ludicrousness, peculiarity and ridiculousness.

How do you use "Irony" in a sentence?

Examples of "Irony" in a sentence: "We got a good chuckle seeing their tow truck being towed away, but our friends failed to see the irony.".

Is "Irony" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Irony" is a noun.

Is "Irony" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Irony" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Irony"?

"Irony" is pronounced /ˈī-rə-nē/ and divided into syllables as iro·ny.

What is the origin of the word "Irony"?

"Irony" comes from Latin ironia, from Greek eirōnia, from eirōn dissembler. First known use: 1502.