Meaning of ironic in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /aɪˈrɑnɪk/

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  1. Classifying Adjective

    ironic

    Definitions

    1. humorously sarcastic or mocking

    Examples

    • « dry humor »
    • « an ironic remark often conveys an intended meaning obliquely »
    • « an ironic novel »
    • « an ironical smile »
    • « with a wry Scottish wit »

    Synonyms

  2. 2. characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is

    Examples

    • « madness, an ironic fate for such a clear thinker »
    • « it was ironical that the well-planned scheme failed so completely »

    Synonyms

Famous quotes

  • « I think at its best the American sense of humor is the same as the British sense of humor at its best, which is to be wry and ironic and self deprecating. »
    Simon Pegg
  • « You know, it's ironic to me that Christians want to keep the Ten Commandments in our schools, because Christianity has abrogated four of the Ten Commandments. For example, the Sabbath day according to the Ten Commandments is Saturday, not Sunday. And the reason is because God rested, not because Jesus was resurrected. »
    Alan Dershowitz
  • « It's kind of ironic that the two sports with the greatest characters, boxing and horse racing, have both been on the decline. In both cases it's for the lack of a suitable hero. »
    Dick Schaap
  • « I think coldness is chic among writers, and particularly ironic coldness. What is absolutely not allowable is sadness. People will do anything rather than to acknowledge that they are sad. »
    Mary Gordon
  • « What is ironic is that Allen Ginsberg's importance was in its twilight for so many years that it took his death to bring it to the front page. He electrified an entire world! »
    Rita Dove

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