ironic

adjective

iron·​ic ˌī-ˈrä-nik How to pronounce ironic (audio)
 also  i-ˈrä-
variants or less commonly ironical
ˌī-ˈrä-ni-kəl How to pronounce ironic (audio)
 also  i-ˈrä-
1
: relating to, containing, or constituting irony
an ironic remark
an ironic coincidence
2
: given to irony
an ironic sense of humor
ironicalness
ˌī-ˈrä-ni-kəl-nəs How to pronounce ironic (audio)
 also  i-ˈrä-
noun

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What's irony?

Considerable thought is given to what events constitute “true” irony, and the dictionary is often called upon to supply an answer. Here are the facts about how the word irony is used.

Irony has two formal uses that are not as common in general prose as its more casual uses. One refers to Socratic irony—a method of revealing an opponent’s ignorance by pretending to be ignorant yourself and asking probing questions. The other refers to dramatic irony or tragic irony—an incongruity between the situation in a drama and the words used by the characters that only the audience can see. Socratic irony is a tool used in debating; dramatic irony is what happens when the audience realizes that Romeo and Juliet’s plans will go awry.

The third, and debated, use of irony regards what’s called situational irony. Situational irony involves a striking reversal of what is expected or intended: a person sidesteps a pothole to avoid injury and in doing so steps into another pothole and injures themselves. Critics claim the words irony and ironic as they are used in cases lacking a striking reversal, such as “Isn’t it ironic that you called just as I was planning to call you?,” are more properly called coincidence.

The historical record shows that irony and ironic have been used imprecisely for almost 100 years at least, and often to refer to coincidence. This 1939 quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald is typical: "It is an ironic thought that the last picture job I took—against my better judgment—yielded me five thousand dollars five hundred and cost over four thousand in medical attention." Is this true situational irony? It’s debatable.

The word irony has come to be applied to events that are merely curious or coincidental, and while some feel this is an incorrect use of the word, it is merely a new one.

Choose the Right Synonym for ironic

sarcastic, satiric, ironic, sardonic mean marked by bitterness and a power or will to cut or sting.

sarcastic implies an intentional inflicting of pain by deriding, taunting, or ridiculing.

a critic known for his sarcastic remarks

satiric implies that the intent of the ridiculing is censure and reprobation.

a satiric look at contemporary society

ironic implies an attempt to be amusing or provocative by saying usually the opposite of what is meant.

made the ironic observation that the government could always be trusted

sardonic implies scorn, mockery, or derision that is manifested by either verbal or facial expression.

surveyed the scene with a sardonic smile

Examples of ironic in a Sentence

She has an ironic sense of humor. It's ironic that computers break down so often, since they're meant to save people time. It is ironic that the robber's car crashed into a police station.
Recent Examples on the Web This is politics presented as grand spectacle and ironic comedy: an original treatment of how a young popular African leader was assassinated in a coup d’etat so that colonial powers can keep profiting from his country’s mineral wealth. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 Reznor’s extreme approach was not without ironic controversy. Adam Steiner, SPIN, 8 Mar. 2024 García Márquez spent much of the last decade of his life with debilitating dementia — an ironic cruelty for a master of chronicling memories, said his eldest son. Carrie Kahn, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024 In a sadly ironic twist, Beverly Hills, 90210’s upcoming Fox reboot was announced the very day of Perry’s stroke. Aili Nahas, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Similarly, experts have observed a rise in ironic communication, like satire and parody, in recent years, as a tool to both examine and push back on dangerous ideologies like fascism. Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 With Sweden’s accession, NATO will count 32 countries among its members, an ironic twist given that Russia launched its war against Ukraine in part due to the alliance’s growth in Eastern Europe along Russia’s border. Joshua Berlinger, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 The fact that the two Asian countries could end up operating the same equipment is ironic Richard Aboulafia says considering that KAI and Saab are competitors in the lower cost fighter market. Eric Tegler, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Curated by Lauren Hinkson and Joan Young, this exhibition invites you to explore the colorful, ironic, and often provocative world of Pop Art, a movement that dramatically reshaped the landscape of contemporary art in the post–World War II era. Nel-Olivia Waga, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ironic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ironic was in 1576

Dictionary Entries Near ironic

Cite this Entry

“Ironic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ironic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ironic

adjective
iron·​ic ˈī-ˈrän-ik How to pronounce ironic (audio)
variants also ironical
: relating to, containing, or being irony
an ironic turn of events
an ironic laugh
ironically
-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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