Synonyms for

Irony

Verb / ˈaɪrʌni: / Another word for irony — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Irony is a situation where the opposite of what is expected happens, or where what someone says is different from what they mean.

Synonyms & similar words

causticremark satire sarcasm sarcasm paradox incongruity inconsistency contradiction mockery ridicule satire humor wit wryness dryness twist surprise unexpectedness unpredictability contrarianism reversal subversion understatement

Synonyms by register

Formal

paradox incongruity juxtaposition

Informal

quirk twist funny thing

Literary

poetic justice cosmic joke

Antonyms

seriousness sincerity earnestness literalness truthfulness plainness

Common collocations

  • sense of irony
  • dramatic irony
  • situational irony
  • verbal irony
  • bitter irony
  • cruel irony
  • heavy irony

Word family

noun irony
adjective ironic

Usage note

Irony often refers to a contrast between expectation and reality. Be careful not to confuse irony with coincidence or simple misfortune.

Example sentences

  1. It was an irony that the dentist had bad teeth.
  2. The irony of the situation was not lost on her.
  3. It's a cruel irony that a firefighter’s house burned down.
  4. The irony of the situation is that he became a cop to fight crime, but ended up becoming a corrupt cop.
  5. There's a certain irony in the fact that a man who once stole cars for a living is now the owner of a successful car dealership.

Quotes

  • The supreme irony of life is that hardly anyone gets out of it alive. - Robert A. Heinlein
  • Irony is just honesty with the volume cranked up. - George Saunders
  • Irony is the hygiene of the mind. - Elizabeth Bibesco

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